Synagogue attacker 'made pledge to IS'

The man whose attack on a synagogue in northern England last week resulted in the deaths of two Jewish worshippers phoned police minutes afterward to say he was acting for Islamic State, investigators said on Wednesday.

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Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, made the call after driving a car into pedestrians and attacking people with a knife at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall district, police said.

Armed officers shot dead Al-Shamie, who was armed with two knives and had appeared to be wearing an explosive belt, at the scene. Police later said one of the two victims killed in the attack had also died after being struck by police gunfire.