Manchester Jewish House of Worship Assault Victims Identified as Interior Minister Says Attacker Was Unknown to Law Enforcement
The two individuals fatally wounded in yesterday's attack on a Jewish temple in Manchester have been named as fifty-three-year-old Adrian Daulby and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, police have said.
Greater Manchester police stated formal identification is yet to take place but their relatives have been informed and specialist support staff are providing assistance.
Six-Minute Terror Occurs
The victims were killed when an perpetrator used a vehicle to ram into the grounds of the local Jewish worship center in Crumpsall, then attacked congregation members in a six-minute rampage that concluded when armed officers fired upon him.
Three others were seriously injured in the attack on Yom Kippur, the most sacred occasion in the Jewish calendar.
Attacker Identified
Police named the attacker on yesterday evening as Jihad al-Shamie, 35, a British citizen of Middle Eastern origin.
Investigating authorities revealed that three other people – two males in their thirties and a female in her sixties – had been arrested “on suspicion of planning, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism”.
Government Statements
The interior minister has stated that the man who carried out the attack in the region was unknown to the police.
“Regarding the perpetrator, this individual was not known to the intelligence agencies,” commented Shabana Mahmood.
“He has obviously been shot dead at the location, but the official inquiry will now continue at pace.”
Postmortem examinations of the deceased – both of whom are from the local area – will be conducted later on Friday.
Heightened Security Measures
The security service and specialist units will function at a elevated readiness level in the near future, indicating concern that the Manchester synagogue attack may be followed by others.
Security presence at synagogues nationwide is to be enhanced.
Community Effects
Feelings of security in the UK's Jewish population have deteriorated significantly in the recent period, according to the most comprehensive study of British Jews.
The investigation found thirty-five percent of Jews felt insecure in the UK in the current year, compared with 9% in two years prior.
We'll bring you the latest developments on this story as we get them.
