Two victims of Manchester synagogue attack accidentally shot by the police, authorities say
One of two victims who died in an antisemitic attack at a synagogue in Manchester was hit by police gunfire, authorities said.
The deceased victims were identified by police as local residents Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. The attack occurred on Thursday outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for the Jewish community.
A person injured in the attack and currently recovering in hospital was also shot by police, but the gunshot wound was not life-threatening. Two other victims are in the hospital receiving treatment.
The suspect, Jihad Al Shamie, drove a car to the scene, rammed into people and stabbed them. He did not have a gun, police said. A witness who called police said he saw a suspect banging on the door of the building with a knife, trying to gain entry, BBC News reported.
While trying to subdue the suspect, officers at the scene shot at him, according to a statement from Greater Manchester Police Chief Const. Sir Stephen Watson.
“It is believed that both victims were close together behind the synagogue door, as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry,” police said.
It was a “tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers to bring this vicious attack to an end,” said Watson.
The attack occurred in the suburb of Crumpsall, just less than five kilometres north of Manchester’s city centre, in northwest England.
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