Police shot dead a man on Thursday who was accused of carrying out a deadly car ramming and stabbing attack near a synagogue in Manchester, killing two members of the Jewish community. Three other victims remain in serious condition.
According to British authorities, the attacker drove a car into pedestrians before launching a six-minute stabbing spree. Later on Thursday, counterterrorism officers declared the incident a “terrorism attack” and identified the suspect.
On Friday, it was revealed that two of the victims, including one of those killed, were likely shot by armed police responding to the scene.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said law enforcement had been deployed to synagogues across the country following the attack, which occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
“Earlier today, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day for the Jewish community, a vile individual carried out a terrorist attack targeting Jews because they are Jewish, and targeting Britain because of our values,” Starmer said.
Witnesses reported seeing a car ram into pedestrians near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, an outer suburb of Manchester. They also reported a man being stabbed.
Paramedics arrived at 9:41am (08:41 GMT) and treated several members of the public. Critically injured victims were transported to hospital, according to the NHS North West Ambulance Service.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said they were called at 9:31am after a member of the public reported “a car being driven towards members of the public, and one man had been stabbed” outside Heaton Park Shul.
By 9:37am, GMP declared a major incident and launched Operation Plato, the code for a “marauding terrorist attack.” One minute later, firearms officers fired at a man believed to be the attacker.
Paramedics treated four people for stab wounds and injuries from the vehicle, while critically injured victims were transported to hospital. A bomb disposal team later arrived at the scene.
At 11:15am (10:15 GMT), authorities confirmed that two victims had died, along with the suspect.
Police and Investigations
Laurence Taylor, head of UK counterterrorism policing, confirmed the attack as a terrorist incident at 3pm (14:00 GMT) and said two arrests had been made.
GMP later clarified that two victims, one deceased and one hospitalized, had been shot by police.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson said, “One of the deceased victims appears to have suffered a gunshot wound. It is believed the suspect did not have a firearm, and the only shots fired were by GMP’s Authorised Firearms Officers to prevent him from entering the synagogue and causing further harm.”
Watson added that one hospitalized victim also sustained a gunshot wound, which is not life-threatening. Both victims were reportedly behind the synagogue door as worshippers tried to stop the attacker from entering.
Authorities identified the attacker as 35-year-old Jihad al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian heritage, although formal identification is pending. Investigators are working to determine the motive behind the attack.
Police said the suspect wore a vest that appeared to be an explosive device, which was later confirmed to be non-viable. Three others, two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offences and remain in custody.
The attack occurred on Yom Kippur, a day devoted to fasting, prayer, and atonement. Even those who rarely attend synagogue typically participate on this day.
At Heaton Park Synagogue, worshippers had gathered for the morning Shacharis service at 9am, with a special children’s service scheduled later. Manchester is home to approximately 30,000 Jews, the largest Jewish congregation in the UK outside London.
Police confirmed that two people had been killed: 53-year-old Adrian Daulby and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, both from Crumpsall.
Three others remain seriously injured. Formal identification and post-mortems are ongoing.
