King Charles ‘shocked and saddened’ by Manchester terror attack on synagogue

The King has said he is shocked and saddened following a terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester which left two people dead.

The attack happened at the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue in Manchester on the morning of October 2, Yom Kippur.

A man drove a car at the synagogue and then left the vehicle, attacking people with a knife. Two people were killed and several others were injured.

The police tackled the man who was wearing a suspected suicide belt. He was shot dead.

Two other people have been arrested.

King Charles said he was ”deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horrific attack in Manchester” and he added that his ”thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this appalling incident.”

The King said he and The Queen ”greatly appreciate the swift actions of the emergency services.”

The attack happened on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

His Majesty said he was saddened by the attack, especially as it took place on ”such a significant day for the Jewish community”.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have also sent their condolences. William and Catherine wrote that ”the fact that this tragedy occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more shocking. We are thinking of the entire community as well as the emergency responders who attended this terrible incident.”

The Prince and Princess also said ”our thoughts are with the victims and the families of the terrible attack at Heaton Park Synagogue.”

The terror attack led to other synagogues cancelling services for Yom Kippur.

The incident was later declared a terror attack with the head of counter terrorism policing, Laurence Taylor, saying ”based on what we know, counter terrorism policing has declared this as a terrorist incident.”

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, returned to the UK following a meeting in Denmark and chaired an emergency meeting of the COBRA committee.