UK police have declared Thursday’s attack on Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester, which left two Jews dead and four others injured, as an act of “terrorism,” while identifying the mastermind as Jihad Al-Shamie.

Laurence Taylor, the UK’s head of Counter Terrorism Policing, in a statement on Tuesday, said, “Based on what we know, Counter Terrorism Policing has declared this as a terrorist incident.”

Two arrests have been made in connection with the attack, while Mr Al-Shamie, 35, who was shot dead by the police after he rammed his car at people and followed it up with stabbing those in sight, has been identified as  a British citizen of Syrian descent.

According to UK authorities, Mr Al-Shamie came into the UK as a young child and was granted British citizenship in 2006 as a minor.

Greater Manchester Police, in a statement, also identified the two killed in the attack as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both from Crumpsall.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a statement on X, condemned the attack, describing it as “a vile terrorist attack that attacked Jews, because they are Jews”.

“Antisemitism is a hatred that is rising, once again. Britain must defeat it, once again. To every Jewish person in this country: I promise that I will do everything in my power to guarantee you the security you deserve,” Mr Starmer added.