British authorities stated that during an incident at a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, police may have mistakenly shot two individuals, resulting in one fatality. The Greater Manchester Police revealed that the suspect, Jihad Al-Shamie, did not have a firearm, and the gunfire came from a police officer. Chief Constable Steve Watson expressed that the injuries could have been an unintended outcome of the necessary police action to halt the attack.
Reports indicated that one of the injured individuals currently receiving medical care also sustained a gunshot wound. It is believed that both victims were near the synagogue door while trying to prevent the attacker from entering the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue. An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the police complaints watchdog.
The two men who lost their lives in the attack were identified as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both residents of the local area. The assault, classified as a terrorist act by Britain, involved the suspect driving a car into pedestrians and then stabbing a security guard.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has deployed additional police personnel to safeguard synagogues. During his visit to the attack site, Starmer engaged with the Jewish community, emphasizing the suspect’s targeting of Jews based on their religious identity.
Amid the heightened tensions, calls were made to postpone a planned pro-Palestinian protest in London to allow the Jewish community time to process the recent events. Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy urged organizers and attendees to refrain from holding the demonstration at the scheduled time.
The family of Jihad Al-Shamie expressed shock over his actions, distancing themselves from his “heinous act.” The ongoing rise in antisemitic incidents in various countries, including Britain, Canada, and the United States, has raised concerns about the safety of Jewish communities.