Manchester police have confirmed that one of the victims of Thursday’s synagogue attack may have been fatally struck by gunfire from armed officers who were targeting the assailant.
Gatekeepers News reports that greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the victim, along with another worshipper who was injured, were likely hit as officers tried to stop the attacker from storming the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall on Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson said preliminary findings from a Home Office pathologist suggest that one of the two men killed, either Adrian Daulby, 53, or Melvin Cravitz, 66, “would appear to have suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury.”
Since the attacker, identified as Jihad Al Shamie, did not have a firearm, Watson acknowledged that the fatal shot must have come from police.
“The only shots fired were from GMP’s Authorised Firearms Officers as they worked to prevent the offender from entering the synagogue and causing further harm to our Jewish community,” he said.
“It follows therefore, that subject to further forensic examination, this injury may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers to bring this vicious attack to an end.”
The assault began just after 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, when Al Shamie rammed a car into worshippers outside the synagogue before attacking with a knife. Police said officers were on scene within three minutes, and opened fire at 9:38 a.m., killing the suspect.
In total, five Jewish worshippers were injured or killed: two died, one was stabbed, one struck by the car, and one sustained a gunshot wound. Three remain in hospital.
Footage from the scene showed armed officers shouting instructions to worshippers inside the synagogue as they aimed their weapons at the downed suspect.
Political and Security Response
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who visited the site Friday, vowed stronger protection for the Jewish community.
“I will do everything in my power to guarantee the security every Jewish person in this country deserves,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police in London urged organizers to cancel planned pro-Palestinian demonstrations this weekend, linked to the banned group Palestine Action, citing security concerns.
“The horrific terrorist attack that took place in Manchester yesterday will have caused significant fear and concern in communities across the UK,” police said.
“Yet at a time when we want to be deploying every available officer to ensure the safety of those communities, we are instead having to plan for a gathering of more than 1,000 people in Trafalgar Square.”
