The family of a man who carried out a violent incident at a synagogue and was subsequently shot by police has released a statement. Identified as Jihad Al-Shamie, aged 35, he drove into a group of people outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in north Manchester. Following the attack on Yom Kippur, two individuals, Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, lost their lives, while three others are hospitalized with severe injuries.
In response to the tragic events, Al-Shamie’s family has expressed deep shock and sadness, calling the attack a “heinous act” that targeted peaceful civilians. They have distanced themselves from the violence and extended condolences to the victims and their families, praying for their recovery and well-being.
Al-Shamie, a British citizen since 2006, is reported to have resided in the UK since childhood, with no prior involvement in police or security investigations. Neighbors recall him as a quiet individual who lived in Langley Crescent, Prestwich, for about a decade. Descriptions of his daily activities, including exercising in the garden and his reclusive nature, have emerged from those living nearby.
According to ITV News, Al-Shamie worked as a tutor teaching English and computer programming, with his father reported to be a surgeon. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed surprise at the attacker’s name, stating that as a Muslim, she had not encountered the name Jihad before but acknowledged it as his given name.
