The two men who died in the horrific terror attack in Manchester yesterday have been named.
Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were both killed in the attack that took place outside Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue, in Middleton Road, Crumpsall, on Thursday morning.
The attack saw a car driven at members of the public, before it crashed and the attacker emerged and started stabbing those congregated outside. The attack took place on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Greater Manchester Police said their ‘deepest sympathies are with Mr Daulby and Mr Cravitz’s loved ones at this extremely hard time.’
Detective Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes, who is in charge of coordinating the casualty response, said: ‘My deepest sympathies are with Mr Daulby and Mr Cravitz’s loved ones at this extremely hard time.
‘Specially trained Family Liaison Officers are in contact with them. They will continue to update them on the investigation and support them throughout the coronial process.
‘Whilst there are processes which must be followed, we commit to being mindful of cultural preferences and sensitivities and to ensuring that these men and their loved ones’ wishes are respected.’
Home Office post-mortems will take place later this morning.
Last night, Greater Manchester Police named the suspect, who was shot dead by armed police in the attack, as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie. He is a British citizen of Syrian descent and police say they are ‘working to understand the motivation’, with the attack being treated as terror-related.
Police also arrested two men aged in their 30s and a woman in her 60s on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack.
Two innocent members of Manchester’s Jewish community – Mr Daulby and Mr Cravitz – tragically died in the attack. Four others were injured, with three still in hospital with serious injuries.
This is a breaking news story.