Manchester Synagogue Attack: Victims Named as Police Investigate Terror Incident
Adrian Daulby, 53, and melvin Cravitz, 66, have been identified as the two men killed in Thursday’s attack on a synagogue in Manchester, police announced.Three others remain hospitalized wiht serious injuries.
The attack occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, deliberately drove a car into people and then stabbed others. Al-shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, was shot dead at the scene by police. Authorities have classified the incident as a terrorist act.
“Right now our hearts are shattered,” said UK’s Chief Rabbi, sir Ephraim Mirvis, to the BBC.”What transpired yesterday was an awful blow to us, something which actually we were fearing might happen as of the build up to this action.” He added the attack was “a very dark time” not only for British Jews, “but for all of our society.”
Home Secretary shabana Mahmood stated, “Our obligation is to make sure our Jewish community, our citizens can go about their lives with safety and security.” She emphasized, “I do not want Jewish people in our country to feel like they have to live a smaller Jewish life…that they cannot go about their business and practice their faith…in freedom.”
Mahmood confirmed Al-Shamie was not previously known to counter-terrorism police and cautioned it was “too early” to determine if a terrorist cell was involved. A police investigation is “continuing at pace,” with increased security measures now in place at synagogues across the UK.
“the government does provide funding for security,” Mahmood said, adding that a review of measures to address rising antisemitism would be considered.
Greater Manchester Police are supporting the families of Daulby and Cravitz, both of whom were from Crumpsall. Det Ch Supt Lewis Hughes expressed his “deepest sympathies” to the families and stated trained family liaison officers are providing ongoing support.
Post-mortems on the victims are scheduled for Friday, according to the Home Office.
