It has been confirmed by Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson that one of the victims of the Manchester synagogue terror attack died after seemingly being injured as a result of a police gunshot.
On Thursday (2 October), Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that a man had been shot and killed by officers following a knife attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.
Two people were killed as a result of the attack, with three left in critical condition.
Authorities responded to calls about a car being driven at pedestrians in the Middleton Road area in Crumpsall at 9.30am, later confirming the attack and classifying it as a ‘terrorist incident’.
One of the five people injured was confirmed to be a security guard, while it was reported that the suspect was shot as police believed he had an explosive device strapped to his waist.
The suspect has since been named as Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent.
Speaking about the deceased victim, Watson explained full post-mortem examinations are scheduled for later today, stating: “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,” he concluded, before sending his thoughts out to the families and the wider community.
The names of the two victims were revealed by authorities to be Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66.
Detective Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes, who has been coordinating the casualty response, stated: “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.”
GMO confirmed that one of the three people hospitalised after the attack was recovering from stab wounds, while another was hit by a moving vehicle.
As for the suspect, it was said that upon assessing Al-Shamie’s past records, GMP stated that they ‘do not show any previous Prevent referrals relating to this individual’.
Al-Shamie was believed to have moved to the UK as a child, gaining citizenship in 2006, while three other people have also been arrested on suspicion of planning the terror attack.
Two people have been killed following a terrifying stabbing at a north Manchester Synagogue, with the suspect believed to have been shot dead by police.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have closed off the area around Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue following the stabbing, as they announced that a suspect armed with a knife was shot by armed officers on Thursday (2 October) morning.
GMP confirmed the attack, which involved a car driven at pedestrians outside the place of worship on Middleton Road at 9.30am this morning.
Though initially believed to be four, five people have been confirmed to have been injured in the attack, including a security guard.
Three others are said to be in a serious condition as police continue their investigation.
It was declared to be a major incident at 9.37am by GMP, with shots fired a minute later at the believed offender.
It has been reported that the suspect was shot because he was believed to have had a device on him, though the nature of the device or its authenticity is yet to be confirmed.
GMP previously stated that the suspect’s condition remains unclear, despite Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham stating ‘it is believed’ that the man is dead.
The bomb squad remains on the scene, as a GMP spokesperson stated: “We’re responding to an incident outside a synagogue on Middleton Road in Manchester. Police have swooped on a synagogue in north Manchester after a stabbing and car attack left four people injured.”
Several major Greater Manchester hospitals are also ‘on lockdown’ after declaring this morning’s stabbing a major incident.
The likes of Salford Royal, Fairfield General, Rochdale Infirmary, and the Royal Oldham hospitals are taking the necessary measures, with an internal note from the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust reading ‘Greater Manchester major incident declared – lockdown of our sites’.
The MEN reports that the message said: “Please be advised that all our sites have been asked to immediately lock down following the declaration of a major incident within Greater Manchester.
“We have been informed that emergency services are at the scene of an incident within Manchester. We will share further details as these become available.”King Charles has since released a statement, saying that he and the Queen were ‘deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horrific attack in Manchester, especially on such a significant day for the Jewish community’.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who cut a trip to Denmark short to chair an emergency Cobra meeting, said he was ‘appalled’ by the incident, adding: “The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.”
GMP confirmed that a passerby alerted police and Paramedics were on the scene at 9.41, with authorities continuing to stay on the scene.
“Members of the public are asked to avoid the area while the police continue to deal with the incident,” they added.
‘Additional police assets’ are said to be deployed at synagogues across the UK, as the Prime Minister said that ‘we will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe.’
