The man behind Thursday’s fatal attack at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester has been identified as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, who was shot dead by police shortly after the incident. Two worshippers – Adrian Daulby (53) and Melvin Cravitz (66) – were killed, while three others were seriously injured.
Al-Shamie, who moved from Syria to the UK as a child and became a British citizen in 2006, lived with his family in Greater Manchester for decades, only a short distance from the synagogue he targeted. Though reports suggest he was a father and worked as a tutor in English and computer programming, he was not on the radar of police or the government’s Prevent counter-terrorism programme, according to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
The attack occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. At 9:31 a.m., Al-Shamie allegedly drove his car into a group of Jewish worshippers before getting out and stabbing victims indiscriminately. Witnesses described his actions as “robotic” and methodical, while police later confirmed that the suspected explosive vest he wore was a fake.
Rabbi Daniel Walker and members of the congregation, including father-of-three Yoni Finlay, managed to barricade the synagogue, preventing the attacker from entering. Finlay was injured during the police intervention and underwent surgery, though it remains unclear if his injuries were caused by gunfire or shrapnel. Armed officers killed Al-Shamie seven minutes after the violence began.
In the aftermath, police arrested three other people – two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s – on suspicion of involvement in planning the attack. Investigations continue into Al-Shamie’s background and potential connections to extremist networks.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis condemned the assault as part of a wider surge in antisemitism, noting that Jewish communities have faced an “unrelenting wave of Jew-hatred” across the UK. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer returned early from a Copenhagen summit to oversee the response, pledging to “do everything in my power” to safeguard Jewish communities. Police patrols at synagogues have since been increased.
Authorities credited the swift response of worshippers, synagogue security, and armed police with preventing further loss of life. Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson praised their actions, saying the attacker was prevented from entering the building due to their bravery.
The incident has raised pressing questions about early detection of radicalised individuals and the vulnerabilities of minority communities in Britain, especially during periods of heightened religious observance.
