A horrifying detail has emerged from the vehicle and knife attack at a British synagogue: one of the victims was tragically killed by accidental police gunfire, officials confirmed on Friday.
The assault, which authorities have officially classified as a terrorist act, claimed the lives of Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation on Thursday morning.
While police initially withheld the name of the deceased victim hit by friendly fire, they did state that another individual also suffered a gunshot wound but survived. Both victims were positioned closely behind the synagogue door, where brave worshippers were actively trying to block the attacker’s entry, according to a police statement.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson of Greater Manchester Police revealed on Friday morning that a forensic pathologist identified a gunshot injury as the cause of death for one of the victims.
In his statement, Chief Watson clarified that the attacker, Jihad al-Shamie, was not armed with a gun, and all shots fired during the incident came from the responding armed police officers.
“It tragically appears, subject to further forensic examination, that this injury was an unforeseen consequence of the urgent actions my officers took to stop this violent assault,” Mr. Watson commented.
Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian heritage, was himself fatally shot by police at the scene.
Occurring on Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar, this attack intensifies global concerns about Jewish safety and the alarming rise of antisemitism. British officials have unequivocally labeled the incident as an act of terrorism.
Faraj al-Shamie, the attacker’s father, issued a statement on his Facebook page Friday morning, expressing the family’s profound shock and strong condemnation of the horrific act.
“The Al-Shamie family, both in the U.K. and internationally, vehemently condemns this monstrous act that targeted innocent, peaceful civilians,” the statement said.
“We unequivocally disavow this attack and convey our deepest shock and sorrow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this incredibly difficult time, offering them strength and comfort,” the family added.
Although police have yet to formally detail the attacker’s motives, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the nation Thursday evening, stating that the assailant “attacked Jews because they are Jews.”
Prime Minister Starmer, whose wife is Jewish, underscored that while antisemitism is not a new phenomenon, its resurgence demands that Britain confront and defeat it once more. He visited the site on Friday, engaging with police officers there.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood informed the BBC on Friday morning that the attacker came to Britain as a child with his family and was granted British citizenship in 2006.
During a separate interview with Times Radio, Ms. Mahmood further clarified that the assailant was not previously identified or known to counterterrorism police.
Security services had no ongoing investigation into Mr. al-Shamie, nor was he flagged as a ‘subject of interest’ in their records. However, intelligence officials are still investigating potential links to other individuals on their watch list.
On Friday, officers conducted searches at his family’s residence in Prestwich, a Manchester suburb approximately two miles from the synagogue, as well as another property located very close to the house of worship.
On Thursday, police confirmed the arrest of three individuals—two men in their thirties and a woman in her sixties—on suspicion of involvement in the planning, preparation, and instigation of terrorist acts. Their identities were not disclosed, and they remain in custody.
To offer reassurance, additional high-visibility police patrols were deployed across Manchester, particularly around synagogues.
The incident prompted widespread condemnation from international political figures. Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to Britain, extended his condolences to the victims and their families, denouncing the “heinous attack” in a public statement.
“No individual should ever experience fear in their home or place of worship,” Zomlot asserted. “Acts of violence targeting civilians demand unequivocal condemnation.”