Tragedy struck at the Manchester synagogue attack, with heart-wrenching news from Greater Manchester Police. It turns out one of the victims tragically died from a police gunshot wound during the chaos. Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were the two community members whose lives were cut short during the terrifying Thursday morning incident at the Crumpsall synagogue.
The suspect, Jihad Al-Shamie, allegedly drove into worshippers and launched a stabbing attack, before being shot dead by police. Interestingly, Al-Shamie wasn’t armed with a gun during the rampage. The police confirmed that any gunshots were fired solely by their officers in a desperate bid to prevent further harm.
A poignant statement from Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson reveals that the gunshot wounds were likely an unintended consequence of the officers’ swift and necessary response. One victim succumbed to these injuries, while another person remains hospitalised with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
In these sombre times, our thoughts and prayers are with the families and community grieving this senseless attack. There are strong sentiments around the bravery of the worshippers who shielded themselves behind the synagogue doors, trying to ward off the attacker.
Al-Shamie, who moved to the UK as a child and became a British citizen in 2006, met his end just seven minutes after police were alerted. Three others—a woman in her 60s and two men in their 30s—are now in custody on terror-related charges.
As investigations continue, the force has escalated the matter to the police watchdog, ensuring thorough oversight. The community stands united, with specialist officers offering support and comfort to everyone directly impacted. Stay safe, everyone, and remember to hold those dear to you a little tighter tonight.