On a somber Friday, British law enforcement officially announced the names of the two men who lost their lives in a terrorist attack at a synagogue in England: Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66.
The attack, occurring on Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish faith, involved an assailant deliberately driving a car into a crowd outside the Heaton Park Congregation synagogue, followed by a violent stabbing rampage. In addition to the two fatalities, three other individuals sustained injuries and are currently receiving hospital care.
This harrowing event has intensified worries regarding the safety of Jewish communities worldwide, amidst a troubling surge in antisemitism. British authorities swiftly categorized the incident as an act of terrorism. Counterterrorism police later revealed the perpetrator’s identity as Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian origin.
In an official statement released Friday morning, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the families of Mr. Daulby and Mr. Cravitz have been notified and are being provided with support from specialized officers.
Detective Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes, responsible for coordinating the police’s casualty response, extended his deepest sympathies, stating, “My deepest sympathies are with Mr. Daulby and Mr. Cravitz’s loved ones at this extremely hard time.”