Greater Manchester Police said the suspect, who was wearing what appeared to be a vest with an explosive device, was shot dead after officers rushed to the scene at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Thursday.

Members of the Jewish community comfort each other at the scene. Source: Getty / Christopher Furlong

Three others were injured in the attack, which took place on Yom Kippur, the most sacred day of the Jewish calendar.

After the attack, police were seen ushering about 30 mostly Jewish elderly men — some in tears, many looking shocked — and some young children away from the synagogue.

They also said three people had been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. The group included two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s.

Anthony Albanese, Sussan Ley condemn attack

“I send my condolences to the people of Manchester after the heinous attack on a synagogue on the most sacred day on the Jewish calendar,” he said in a statement on Friday.

“All people, regardless of religion, have the right to worship in peace and should feel they can do so without fear or apprehension.”

UK PM says antisemitism ‘rising once again’

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who left a European summit in Copenhagen to chair an emergency meeting in London, promised to do everything he could to provide security to the Jewish community and deployed more police to synagogues.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed solidarity with Jewish people on behalf of the country. Source: AAP / AP / James Manning

Starmer said antisemitism was “a hatred that is rising once again, and Britain must defeat it once again”.

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar accused UK authorities of failing to curb “rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement”.