Jihad Al-Shamie has tonight been unmasked as the Islamist terrorist who murdered two people and injured three more in an attack at a synagogue on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

The 35-year-old terrorist, who detectives said was a British citizen of Syrian descent, was shot dead by police who believed he was wearing a suicide-belt jam-packed with explosives as he tried to force his way into a Manchester synagogue where worshippers were gathering for Yom Kippur celebrations.

Investigators currently believe the Manchester synagogue attack was an Islamist terror plot, the Daily Express understands.

Counter-terrorism detectives also confirmed three people have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. They are two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s.

Police do not believe Al-Shamie had been referred to the Government's de-radicalisation programme, Prevent.

Detectives also revealed the injuries sustained by the three people hurt in the attack.

Greater Manchester Police said one was stabbed and the second was struck by Al-Shamie's vehicle.

The third man later presented himself at hospital with an injury that may have been sustained as officers stopped the attacker.

Al Shamie drove a black Kia Picanto car at speed into a group of people who were standing guard outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall area of the city at 9.31am. The knife-wielding maniac smashed into the front gates then leapt from the vehicle and began stabbing “anyone and everyone” – killing two and causing severe injuries to three more.

A hero rabbi then managed to barricade the doors to prevent the madman from gaining entry as armed police raced to the scene.

Daniel Walker, who was later seen in blood-stained robes, was credited with potentially saving dozens of lives as he protected the worshippers inside from the deranged killer.

Moments earlier worshippers had hurled plant pots as the man moved from victim to victim in a “robotic” manner targeting “anyone” wearing a Kippur.

Armed police raced to the scene, arriving within seven minutes of the alarm being raised and fearing the terrorist was wearing an explosive vest, shot him dead.

Mobile phone footage captured members of the public shouting “he’s got bombs on him – he’s trying to press the button” as the man attempts to climb up from the floor. As he staggers to his feet there are shouts from police for the public to disperse before the piercing sound of gunfire explodes and the man collapses back to the ground.

Emergency services were unable to confirm he was dead for a number of hours because of the fear the explosives strapped around his waist were real.

Last night counter terrorism officers were attempting to ascertain if the attack was linked to Hamas after a suspected plot by the terror group in Germany was foiled hours earlier.

The Metropolitan Police’s head of counter-terrorism policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said the identity of the suspect was known to police, but could not be disclosed because of “safety reasons at the scene”.

A picture of the alleged attacker, circulating online, showed a man with a beard and dark clothing standing outside the synagogue with unidentified objects strapped to his waist.

He can also be seen holding something in his hand.

The attack bears chilling similarities to the Westminster Bridge terror attack in 2017 when Khalid Masood drove a car into pedestrians before stabbing PC Keith Palmer to death at the gates of Westminster.

Police declared a major incident at 9.37am after receiving a call from a man who said he had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public and that one man had been stabbed.

The force confirmed the suspect’s death a few hours after shots were fired by armed police at 9.38am.

A woman, who described herself as a religious Jew who lives next door to the synagogue, said as soon as the suspect got out of the car he “started stabbing anyone near him”.

Chava Lewin said: “I was outside and heard a banging sound and I thought it might be a firework.

“My husband went outside and then ran back inside and said, ‘there’s been a terrorist attack’.

“I spoke to someone who said she was driving and saw a car driving erratically and it crashed into the gates (of the synagogue).

“She thought maybe he had a heart attack. The second he got out of the car he started stabbing anyone near him. He went for the security guard and tried to break into the synagogue. He was in the courtyard.

Greater Manchester Police said it had 'declared Plato' - the national code-word used by police and emergency services when responding to a 'marauding terror attack'.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said “additional police assets” will be deployed at synagogues across the country this weekend following the attack.

The Prime Minister flew home early from a meeting of European leaders in Denmark in order to chair a Cobra meeting.

He said he was “appalled” at the attack, adding: “The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.'

The King said he and the Queen were “deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horror, especially on such a significant day for the Jewish community”.

Charles, in a message issued by Buckingham Palace, said his thoughts and prayers were with all those affected by “this appalling incident” as he praised the “swift actions” of the emergency services.

The Prince and Princess of Wales said in a personal message posted on social media: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the families of the terrible attack at Heaton Park Synagogue.

“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.'

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham confirmed one of the victims was a security guard who had been stabbed.

GMP said in a statement: “Police were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9.31am by a member of the public, stating he had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public and one man had been stabbed.”

The force said it declared a major incident at 9.37am.

The statement added: “Shots were fired by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers at 9.38am. One man has been shot, believed to be the offender. Paramedics arrived at the scene at 9.41am and are tending to members of the public.

“We are grateful to the member of the public whose quick response to what they witnessed allowed our swift action, and as a result the offender was prevented from entering the synagogue.'

Salford Royal, Fairfield General, Rochdale Infirmary, and the Royal Oldham hospitals were all put “on lockdown” after the incident.

Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation is a large Ashkenazi Orthodox synagogue that was formally founded in 1935.

Khurram Rafiq, who was driving past the building this morning, described seeing a knifeman going from victim to victim in a 'robotic' manner.

The tech firm manager, 35, said: “I was driving into work this morning and further down the road I saw a car which was on the same side as mine drive into someone on the pavement.

“Initially I thought it was an accident and that the driver had lost control for whatever reason. But he then got out and stabbed the man who was lying on the ground.

“This happened directly outside the synagogue. The knifeman walked through the front gates and stabbed at least two other men.

“I would describe him as an Asian man and he was going for anyone who was Jewish, the men he stabbed were all wearing the Kippur.

“He was quiet, there was no shouting from what I could hear nor any religious slogans or chants, he was very robotic in his actions like he had a job to do and was just focused on doing it.

“The entrance to the synagogue was locked shut. I could see him trying to get in, he was banging on the door and at one point looked to try and kind of jimmy open the door.

“People were trying to distract him by throwing stuff like plant pots but nobody was going near him.

“That, I think, was because round his waist he had what looked like a belt containing explosives. Whether they were real or designed purely to intimidate and cause fear, I can't say.

“But the police were on the scene really quickly, armed police surrounded the synagogue.

“At first he looked to be complying but then two gun shots rang out. I got a little closer and there was a third gunshot which proved fatal. He slumped to the floor.

“The guy he'd hit with the car and stabbed first of all was lying motionless on the ground. There was a pool of blood by where he was lying and to me at that point he looked to have died from his injuries.

“There were people peering out of the synagogue windows and they were afraid for their lives. It was an incredibly frightening incident to witness and I'm still shaken up.'

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the incident as a “vile and disgusting attack” and called for the “rise in antisemitism that we're seeing in our country” to be “quelled completely”.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “I am appalled not only by this brutal attack, but also by the evil that lies behind it.”