British police revealed that during the incident at a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday, one of the victims was accidentally shot by officers while trying to subdue the assailant, who was unarmed. The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) stated that it is believed the suspect, Jihad Al-Shamie, did not have a firearm, and the only shots fired came from the GMP’s Authorized Firearms Officer.
Authorities mentioned that one of the four individuals injured in the attack, currently undergoing treatment in a hospital, also sustained a gunshot wound. Both victims who were shot were located behind the doors of the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue. The deceased individuals in the attack were identified as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both local residents.
The assault, which took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, has been classified as a terrorist act by Britain. The perpetrator drove a vehicle into pedestrians and subsequently attacked a security guard. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has deployed additional police personnel to safeguard synagogues in response to the incident.
In a show of solidarity with the Jewish community, the Prime Minister acknowledged the fear and apprehension felt, stating that the resurgence of hatred must be combated. The suspect, Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British national of Syrian descent, had no prior record of referral to the country’s counter-radicalization program, Prevent.
Furthermore, the British government and law enforcement have urged the organizers of an upcoming pro-Palestinian demonstration in London to consider postponing the event as a sign of respect for the Jewish community affected by the recent tragedy. The protest is organized by Defend Our Juries in opposition to the government’s decision to ban the group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws.
Despite the police’s request to reconsider the protest, Defend Our Juries emphasized condemning the attack on the Jewish community while advocating for the right to peaceful protest. Following the Manchester incident, pro-Palestinian protests occurred across various British cities, with clashes between police and demonstrators resulting in multiple arrests.
