The UK has been placed on heightened security alert after a terror attack at a Manchester synagogue left two men dead and several others seriously injured during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Police confirmed on Friday that one of the victims may have been fatally wounded by gunfire from armed officers responding to the attack—a tragic twist in the already devastating incident.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who visited the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester on Friday, condemned the assault in stark terms. “This was a dreadful attack, a terrorist attack to inflict fear—attacking Jews because they are Jews,” he said, vowing solidarity with Britain’s Jewish community.
The Attack
The assailant, identified as 35-year-old UK citizen Jihad al-Shamie, drove a car into worshippers before stabbing a security guard as panicked congregants rushed to block the synagogue doors. He was shot dead within minutes by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) firearms officers.
Shamie was wearing a vest designed to look like an explosive device, though police later confirmed it was a fake.
Victims were named as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66—both local members of the Jewish community. Three others remain in hospital in serious condition.
Possible Friendly Fire
GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson said a forensic pathologist had “provisionally determined that one of the deceased victims suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury.” With no evidence the attacker had a firearm, Watson acknowledged the injury “may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of officers responding to the threat.”
A second man is also being treated for a gunshot wound, though his condition is not life-threatening. Both victims were among worshippers who heroically blocked the synagogue entrance to prevent the attacker from breaking in.
Wider Investigation
Three other suspects—two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s—have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offences. Counter-terrorism officers are now leading the investigation.
Community Response
In a statement, synagogue leaders expressed heartbreak: “It is hard to find the words to convey the depth of our community’s grief as we try to process this act of unimaginable violence.
The greatest tribute to the victims will be for communities across the country to come together in peace and solidarity, to challenge the evil of antisemitism.”
A vigil was held in Manchester on Friday, while Manchester United announced it will observe a minute’s silence in memory of the victims during Saturday’s match.
Meanwhile, police have stepped up armed patrols and security measures at synagogues nationwide amid fears of further attacks.
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