A somber revelation has emerged from the horrific vehicle and knife attack at a British synagogue: one of the victims was tragically killed by accidental gunfire from a responding police officer. Officials confirmed this distressing detail on Friday.
The attack, which occurred on Thursday morning at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, claimed the lives of Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. Authorities have officially labeled the incident a terrorist attack.
According to police accounts, the two victims were positioned closely behind the synagogue door, as courageous worshipers desperately tried to prevent the attacker from breaching the entrance.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson of Greater Manchester Police addressed the public on Friday morning, stating that a post-mortem examination revealed one of the deceased victims sustained a “wound consistent with a gunshot injury.”
He further clarified that the assailant, Jihad al-Shamie, was not armed with a firearm. Therefore, the only shots fired at the scene came from the armed police officers who were swiftly working to neutralize the threat.
Mr. Watson acknowledged the profound tragedy, explaining: “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.”