Manchester, England — An inquest has revealed that the attacker in the recent synagogue incident died from multiple gunshot wounds inflicted by police during an assault on worshippers at the Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue on October 2. The assailant, Jihad al Shamie, initiated an attack on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, targeting individuals as they gathered for prayers.
According to testimony presented in Manchester Coroner’s Court, al Shamie drove his vehicle at congregants and subsequently attacked others using a knife. Armed officers confronted him when he approached them aggressively, brandishing a knife and what they initially believed to be an explosive device. It was later determined that the device was a fake.
Detective Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes noted that police officers fired several shots at al Shamie, who collapsed to the ground after sustaining multiple injuries. Judge Alexia Durran, presiding over the inquest, stated in her provisional findings that the cause of death was gunshot wounds.
Al Shamie, a Syrian-born citizen of the UK, was positively identified through fingerprint analysis and other investigative methods, including evidence found in his car and phone. Family members watched the proceedings via video link as the inquest unfolded.
The tragic attack resulted in the deaths of two worshippers, Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby. Cravitz, aged 66, succumbed to multiple stab wounds inflicted by al Shamie, while 53-year-old Daulby died from a single gunshot wound fired by an officer during the response to the attack. Daulby has been remembered as a “quiet hero” for his quick actions in attempting to secure the synagogue’s doors amid the chaos.
The inquest into the deaths of both victims was opened earlier this week and is scheduled for a pre-inquest review in February. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has determined that there was no misconduct in the police response during the incident.
This devastating event has left the community in shock and mourning as they seek solace in the face of such violence. Local leaders have emphasized the importance of unity and resilience in the aftermath of this tragedy.