One of the victims killed in a terrorist attack at a synagogue in Manchester was shot dead by police, it emerged today.
Another injured worshipper, who remains in a serious condition in hospital, also suffered a gunshot wound.
Both had been standing behind the synagogue door at the time. It is believed both victims were trying to stop the Islamic terrorist from gaining entry.
In a statement this morning, Greater Manchester Police said it is not believed that attacker Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was armed with a gun, and that both individuals were shot by officers.
Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed following the attack outside Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue in Manchester on Thursday morning.
Police have not confirmed which of the men suffered a gunshot wound.
Syrian-born Al-Shamie, who came to the UK as a young child and was granted British citizenship in 2006, was also shot dead by police. He was not known to counter-terror police or security services prior to Thursday’s attack.
The gunshot wound to the injured victim is not life-threatening. Home Office post-mortems will take place later this morning.
It is understood that Greater Manchester Police has referred itself to the police watchdog, the IOPC, over the incident.
One of the victims killed in a terrorist attack at a synagogue in Manchester was shot by police, it emerged today
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said it is not believed that attacker Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was armed with a gun, and that both individuals were shot by armed officers
The terrorist was shot dead by police following the attack outside a synagogue in Manchester (pictured is a member of the Army’s bomb disposal team checking the attacker)
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said: ‘The Home Office Pathologist has advised that he has provisionally determined, that one of the deceased victims would appear to have suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury.
‘It is currently believed that the suspect, Jihad Al-Shamie, was not in possession of a firearm and 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.
‘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.
‘We have also been advised by medical professionals that one of the three victims currently receiving treatment in hospital, has also suffered a gunshot wound, which is mercifully not life-threatening.
‘It is believed that both victims were close together behind the synagogue door, as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry.’
It comes after the Police Chief yesterday praised ‘brave’ officers and told how armed police that were scrambled to the scene shot Al-Shamie dead within seven minutes of the first 999 call.
Sir Stephen said last night that the bravery of security staff and worshippers had stopped the knifeman from entering the building.
He told reporters: ‘There were a large number of worshippers attending the synagogue at the time of this attack, but thanks to the immediate bravery of security staff and the worshippers inside, as well as the fast response of the police, the attacker was prevented from gaining access.’
Melvin Cravitz, 66 (pictured) was killed in the terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester yesterday
Pictured is the alleged attacker outside the synagogue, which had been barricaded from the inside
A car pictured at the scene today following the attack – Al-Shamie drove at members of the public before stabbing multiple people
Rabbi Daniel Walker (pictured right) leapt into action after the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue came under attack this morning
Police officers gather inside a cordon on Friday morning after yesterday’s terror attack killed two members of the Jewish community
A bomb disposal expert from the British Army’s 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment is seen investigating the device worn by the terrorist
Hero Rabbi Daniel Walker and several other members of his congregation barricaded the doors to the synagogue to prevent terrorist Al-Shamie from entering the building and causing more carnage.
The attacker, who was pictured wearing a mock suicide belt that police have confirmed was not viable, drove hsi black Kia into pedestrians before stabbing multiple people at 9.31am on Thursday.
Armed officers were scrambled to the scene, and video footage showed how one shouted the attacker had a ‘bomb’.
Al-Shamie was shot twice by officers, eyewitnesses said, but it appears that stray bullets also hit two members of the community stood behind the synagogue doors.
When police arrived, it was reported that Al-Shamie was attempting to stab people through a window to the synagogue as he tried to get in.
As well as the two deceased, the horror left four injured, with three still in a serious condition in hospital.
It emerged yesterday that father-of-three Yoni Finlay also helped to stop the terrorist gaining entry. He was said to have been injured by a stray bullet when armed police shot Al-Shamie dead seven minutes after the horror unfolded.
Mr Finlay was taken to hospital following the attack and has undergone surgery, it is understood.
Al-Shamie is a British citizen of Syrian descent and police said they are ‘working to understand the motivation’, with the attack being treated as terror-related.
Officers also arrested two men aged in their 30s and a woman in her 60s on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack.
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The road where the arrests took place, White House Avenue, about 1,500ft from the synagogue, was cordoned off and put under armed guard
Following the incident, armed officers later reportedly arrested two men in a street just feet away from the deadly knife attack in Manchester (pictured is a man being detained by police)
The scene outside the Heaton Park Synagogue, pictured early on Friday morning, as a police investigation continues into the attack
The attack took place on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Al Shamie’s relatives took to social media this morning to share a statement in which they condemned his ‘heinous’ act.
The family said: ‘The news from Manchester regarding the terrorist attack targeting a Jewish synagogue has been a profound shock to us.
‘The Al-Shamie family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act, which targeted peaceful, innocent civilians.
‘We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened. Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we pray for their strength and comfort.
‘We kindly request that all media outlets respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time and refrain from using this tragic event in any context that does not reflect the truth.
‘May God have mercy on the innocent victims, and we pray for the swift recovery of the injured.’
The statement was signed by Faraj Al-Shamie, on behalf of the Al-Shamie Family.
The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood this morning confirmed that Al-Shamie had not been previously referred to Prevent.
Al-Shamie’s name has also not appeared in initial searches of police and security service records, and he is not thought to have been under investigation.
Further checks are being carried out to see if any of his details appear anywhere in records of other investigations.
Eyewitness Khurram Rafiq, who was driving past the synagogue, said Al-Shamie went from victim to victim in a ‘robotic’ manner like he ‘had a job to do’.
Mr Rafiq, 35, a manager for a global tech firm, told the Daily Mail: ‘Initially I thought it was an accident and that the driver had lost control for whatever reason.
‘But he then got out and stabbed the man who was lying on the ground. The knifeman walked through the front gates and stabbed at least two other men. I would describe him as an Asian man and he was going for anyone who was Jewish.
‘The men he stabbed were all wearing the kippah. There was no shouting from what I could hear nor any religious slogans.’
Last night, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the terror attack had come following an ‘unrelenting wave of Jew hatred on our streets, campuses, on social media and elsewhere’.
He said: ‘This is the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come.’
Police patrols have been bolstered outside synagogues since yesterday’s bloodshed, with Sir Keir Starmer pledging to the Jewish community that he would do ‘everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve’.
The Prime Minister visited the scene of the attack this morning with his wife Victoria, where they spoke with emergency service personnel and paid tribute to victims.
