Police in Manchester have confirmed the identities of two men killed in Thursday’s deadly car and knife assault at the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, northwest England.
The victims were named as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. Three other worshippers remain hospitalized in serious condition after the attacker rammed his vehicle into pedestrians before stabbing multiple people outside the synagogue during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
The assailant, identified as Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, was shot dead by police just seven minutes after the attack began. He had been wearing what appeared to be an explosives belt, later determined to be fake.
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Authorities are treating the incident as a terrorist attack. Three others a woman in her 60s and two men in their 30s have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses as investigations continue.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called the assault “the result of an unrelenting wave of Jew hatred,” while Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the “vile” attack and pledged greater protection for the Jewish community.
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The tragedy has heightened concerns amid a surge in antisemitic incidents across the UK, with advocacy group Community Security Trust reporting more than 1,500 cases in the first half of 2025 the second-highest figure ever recorded.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
