Greater Manchester Police said officers had been called to Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the north Manchester district of Crumpsall after a witness said they had seen a car driven at members of the public and that one man had been stabbed.

Armed officers responded and a man, believed to be the offender, was shot, GMP said in a statement.

Two people had been confirmed dead and three others were in a serious condition. The suspect was also believed to be dead but police said it could not be confirmed “due to safety issues surrounding suspicious items on this person”.

A bomb disposal unit was summoned and was at the scene, they said.

A video shared on social media and verified by Reuters showed police shooting a man inside the synagogue’s perimeter, while another man lay on the floor in a pool of blood, appearing to wear a traditional Jewish head covering.

Police had earlier said that reports indicated that a security guard had been attacked with a knife.