Police have reported that one of the individuals who lost their life in the recent attack on a Jewish synagogue was shot by law enforcement officers. The assailant, Jihad Al-Shamie, a British national of Syrian origin, was fatally shot by armed officers shortly after fatally stabbing two men on Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar, at Heaton Park synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester.
The victims have been identified as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, with three others sustaining serious injuries and currently hospitalized. Although a formal post-mortem examination is pending, initial findings indicate that one of the victims suffered a gunshot wound. The Greater Manchester Police clarified that it is uncertain whether the gunshot wound occurred when the victim was shot behind the synagogue’s closed doors.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson stated that a Home Office Pathologist preliminarily determined that one victim likely sustained a gunshot wound. The suspect, Jihad Al Shamie, was reportedly not armed, and the shots fired were by GMP’s Authorized Firearms Officers to prevent further harm to the Jewish community. Additionally, one of the hospitalized victims also suffered a gunshot wound but is expected to recover.
According to the police, two men in their thirties and a woman in her sixties have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in terror-related activities. Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the scene, accompanied by his wife, as worshippers gathered for prayers. The incident continues to be investigated, with support provided to the affected families and community members.