One of two men killed in a terrorist attack on a Manchester synagogue and another victim who survived were accidentally shot by police officers attempting to stop the attacker, authorities said Friday.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson said a Home Office pathologist provisionally determined that one of the deceased victims suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury. Watson said the attacker, identified as Jihad Al-Shamie, did not have a firearm, and the only shots fired were by police officers at the scene.
“It follows therefore, that subject to further forensic examination, this injury may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers to bring this vicious attack to an end,” Watson said in a statement.
Police identified the victims killed in Thursday’s attack as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. Three other people remain hospitalized in serious condition, one of whom also suffered a gunshot wound that medical professionals said is not life-threatening.
“It is believed that both victims were close together behind the synagogue door, as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry,” Watson said.
The attack occurred Thursday morning at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Manchester suburb of Crumpsall as worshippers gathered for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Al-Shamie, 35, drove a car into pedestrians outside the synagogue before attacking people with a knife in what police called an act of terrorism.
Police identified Al-Shamie as of Syrian descent who entered the United Kingdom as a young child and became a citizen in 2006.
The Telegraph reported Friday that Al-Shamie was on bail accused of rape when he carried out the attack.He was due to appear in court later this year charged with a serious sexual offense that allegedly took place earlier this year in Manchester.
The report also cited that the attacker was suspected in 2012 of sending death threats to Conservative MP John Howell after the politician spoke in defense of Israel’s right to protect itself. One email came from “Jihad Alshamie,” who told Howell that “it is people like you who deserve to die.”
