Manchester Synagogue Attack: Police Confirm Victims May Have Been Hit by Officers’ Gunfire
Manchester Synagogue Attack: Police Confirm Victims May Have Been Hit by Officers’ Gunfire
New revelations have emerged from the devastating synagogue attack in Manchester, England, with Greater Manchester Police confirming that two victims, one of whom died, appear to have been struck by gunfire from police officers responding to the incident.
The attack, which occurred on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, involved 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent. Police allege Al-Shamie drove a vehicle into a crowd before exiting and attacking people with a blade in what has been declared a terrorist incident.
During the unfolding chaos, congregants bravely blockaded themselves inside the synagogue, preventing Al-Shamie from gaining entry. Police subsequently fatally shot the suspect. However, an initial investigation indicates that the suspect was not armed with a firearm, leading police to believe that the victims’ gunshot wounds were likely from law enforcement.
Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson stated that a Home Office Pathologist provisionally determined one of the deceased victims suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury. The victim who sustained gunshot injuries and survived is currently hospitalized, along with two other injured individuals.
The two victims killed in the attack have been identified as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. Daulby’s family praised him as a “hero” who died attempting to save others. Cravitz, a security guard at the synagogue, was hailed for “bravely prevent[ing] the attacker” from entering the building. Both victims believed to have been hit by police gunfire were reportedly sheltering close together behind a door inside the synagogue.
Three additional suspects—two men and a woman—were arrested on Thursday in connection with suspected terrorism acts. Meanwhile, Al-Shamie’s family has issued a statement condemning the “heinous act” and expressing sorrow for the victims.
The investigation continues at the scene as authorities work to piece together the full sequence of events and the precise circumstances surrounding the victims’ injuries.
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