The perpetrator of the tragic incident at the Manchester synagogue has been identified as Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British national of Syrian origin. Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that Al-Shamie was responsible for the attack that resulted in the death of two individuals and the injury of four others at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.
Al-Shamie, armed with a knife and what was initially thought to be an explosive device, was fatally shot by authorities within seven minutes of the assault. In connection with the synagogue attack, two men in their 30s and a 60-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in terrorism-related activities.
The deceased victims of the attack have been identified as 53-year-old Adrian Daulby and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, both residents of Crumpsall. The incident was reported to police after a car struck pedestrians and individuals were stabbed. Sadly, two individuals lost their lives in the terrorist act, while four others were hospitalized in critical condition.
Although the circumstances surrounding Al-Shamie’s death are still under investigation due to concerns about suspicious items in his possession, subsequent examination revealed that the device he carried was not a functional explosive. Greater Manchester Police stated, “We are now able to confirm that, although formal identification is yet to take place, we believe the person responsible for today’s attacks is 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent.”
The police department disclosed that three individuals sustained serious injuries during the attack, with one suffering a stab wound, another being hit by the vehicle used in the assault, and a third person self-presenting at a hospital with an injury likely incurred during the apprehension of the assailant. Efforts to identify the deceased victims and provide assistance to their families, as well as support for the injured and the community, are ongoing.
Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the motive behind the heinous attack, with crime scenes established at White House Avenue in Crumpsall and Langley Crescent in Prestwich, locations associated with the arrests.
