KEIR Starmer will fly home early from a meeting of European leaders to chair a Cobra meeting following the attack at a synagogue in Greater Manchester, it is understood.
Four people were injured after a car was driven at members of the public and a man was stabbed outside the synagogue.
Greater Manchester Police said it was called to an incident in Middleton Road, Crumpsall, on Thursday where a man – who is believed to be the offender – was shot by firearms officers.
Police said it had “declared Plato” – the national code-word used by police and emergency services when responding to a “marauding terror attack”.
In a statement on X, Starmer said: “I’m appalled by the attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall.
“The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.
“My thoughts are with the loved ones of all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services and all the first responders.”
Speaking to ITV, he added: "I'm on my way back to London, when I arrive I will chair an emergency Cobra meeting.
"I'm already able to say that additional police assets are being deployed to synagogues across the country. And we will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe."
Meanwhile at the scene a white lorry marked "Bomb Disposal" has arrived and gone behind the cordon outside the synagogue.
In video shared on social media, an onlooker could be heard saying that the suspect “has got a bomb on him” and appears to be trying to press a button to detonate it.
“He’s going to blow himself up, he’s trying to press the button,” the person is heard to say before there is the sound of a gunshot and the person falls to the ground.
The area around the synagogue in Crumpsall, north of Manchester, has been swamped by dozens of police vehicles, along with fire and ambulance crews, while the force helicopter hovers over-head.
Streets surrounding the synagogue has been cordoned off with more police cars and vans, sirens blaring, racing down neighbouring roads.
Police officers dressed in black combat fatigues and carrying machine guns could also be seen inside the cordon outside the synagogue.
A Jewish man, among a group of shocked onlookers at the cordon, said his wife and daughter and other members of the congregation were still inside the synagogue.
A number of black, unmarked police 4×4 vehicles and vans carrying plain clothes officers with face coverings were seen leaving the area of the incident at speed.
