British officials confirmed on Friday that one of the two individuals killed in the Yom Kippur terrorist attack was inadvertently shot by Manchester police officers as they moved to apprehend the attacker.
Adrian Daulby, aged 53, and Melvin Cravitz, aged 66, lost their lives after Jihad Al Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen originally from Syria, drove his vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians before stabbing at least one other person.
The total outcome of the incident was two fatalities and four people injured.
However, Sir Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, stated that Al Shamie, who was fatally shot by British police at the scene, was not found to have possessed a firearm.
“It therefore follows, pending further forensic examination, that this wound may unfortunately have been inflicted as a tragic and unintended outcome of the immediate action my officers were compelled to take to halt this brutal assault,” Watson shared in a Friday press briefing.
Among the three injured individuals still receiving medical attention, one also sustained a gunshot injury.
Watson, who has yet to confirm if the gunshot wound was the cause of death for one of the victims on Thursday, mentioned that the injury sustained by the second victim hit by a firearm was “mercifully” not life-threatening.
“It is understood that both victims were in close proximity behind the synagogue door, as congregants bravely attempted to prevent the attacker from entering,” the chief constable stated.
The precise motive for the attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue remains unconfirmed, although it occurs amidst a significant increase in incidents following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The police chief acknowledged his awareness of planned gatherings throughout Manchester where police presence would be maintained, but he strongly advised local residents to consider “whether this is indeed the appropriate moment.”
“You have the opportunity to act responsibly and sensitively by choosing, on this occasion, not to protest in a way that might exacerbate the distress currently being felt by our Jewish community,” Watson further stated.
Leading British figures, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Prime Minister Kier Starmer, implored protesters to show respect for their fellow citizens and for the tragic events that unfolded on the Jewish faith’s holiest day.
“While peaceful protest is a fundamental aspect of our democracy – and legitimate concerns exist regarding the suffering in Gaza – a small number have exploited these demonstrations as a means to promote antisemitic narratives,” Starmer commented.
“I strongly encourage anyone considering protesting this weekend to acknowledge and honor the profound grief experienced by British Jews this week. This period is one of mourning. It is not an opportune time to ignite tensions or inflict additional distress,” he concluded.
Manchester police were not immediately available for comment regarding this report.