Police officers work at the scene of a fatal terror attack in Manchester, Britain, on Friday. Two people died after a car and stabbing attack at a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday, and the attacker, who has been named as 35-year-old British citizen Jihad Al-Shamie, was shot by police. Photo by Adam Vaughan/EPA
British police on Friday identified the two victims killed a day prior in an attack targeting a north Manchester synagogue during Yom Kippur service as men from Crumpsall.
Greater Manchester Police named the victims as 53-year-old Adrian Daulby and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz. Crumpsall is an outer suburb of Manchester, which is located about 2o0 miles northwest of London.
Authorities said formal identification of the victims was pending.
“My deepest sympathies are with Mr. Daulby and Mr. Cravitz’s loved ones at this extremely hard time,” Detective Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes of Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.
“Whilst there are processes which must be followed, we commit to being mindful of cultural preferences and sensitivities and to ensuring that these men and their loved ones’ wishes are respected.”
Daulby and Cravitz were killed Thursday outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in what police are investigating as a terrorist attack .
Authorities said police were notified of a “major incident” near the synagogue at about 9:31 a.m. local time Thursday.
Witnesses reported a car being driven toward a group of people.
Along with the two deceased victims, three people were transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Police said one sustained a stab wound and another was struck by the vehicle.
The suspect — who has been identified as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent — was shot dead at the scene by police.
The third injured victim had arrived on their own at the hospital, with Manchester Police stating their injury “may have been sustained as officers stopped the attacker.”
The injured victims have been identified as two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s.
Authorities said a “suspicious device” had been worn by the suspect during the attack, but it has since been deemed “not to be viable.”
Three additional suspects have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.
The investigation is ongoing.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the incident as a “vile terrorist attack” targeting Britain’s Jewish community because of their faith.
“Anti-semitism is a hatred that is rising, once again. Britain must defeat it, once again,” he said in a statement.
“To every Jewish person in this country: I promise that I will do everything in my power to guarantee you the security you deserve.”
