In an update, Greater Manchester Police says that two victims of yesterday’s attack have been found to have gunshot wounds.
The statement in full from the chief constable:
“The Home Office Pathologist has advised that he has provisionally determined that one of the deceased victims would appear to have suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury,” a statement reads.
“It is currently believed that the suspect, Jihad Al Shamie, was not in possession of a firearm and the only shots fired were from GMP’s Authorised Firearms Officers as they worked to prevent the offender from entering the synagogue and causing further harm to our Jewish community. It follows therefore, that subject to further forensic examination, this injury may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers to bring this vicious attack to an end.
“We have also been advised by medical professionals that one of the three victims currently receiving treatment in hospital, has also suffered a gunshot wound, which is mercifully not life threatening. It is believed that both victims were close together behind the synagogue door, as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry.”
BBC report the following update concerning the attack; ‘’Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson has just issued an update on yesterday’s attack – here’s what he says:
- One of the two people killed appeared to have “suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury” – Watson doesn’t say whether this was the cause of death
- Another of the three victims currently in hospital also “suffered a gunshot wound”, but this is “not life-threatening”
- Both victims of the gunshot wounds were believed to have been “close together behind the synagogue door”
- The suspect, Jihad Al-Shamie, “was not in possession of a firearm” and only GMP’s firearms officers fired shots as they tried to prevent the attacker from entering the synagogue
- As a result, the two victims’ gunshot injuries “may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers”, Watson writes
Although, according to the BBC, the Suspect’s family has said” We fully distance ourselves from this attack.”
His father, Faraj Al-Shamie, posts on Facebook:
“The news from Manchester regarding the terrorist attack targeting a Jewish synagogue has been a profound shock to us. The Al-Shamie family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act, which targeted peaceful, innocent civilians.
“We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened. Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we pray for their strength and comfort.
“We kindly request that all media outlets respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time and refrain from using this tragic event in any context that does not reflect the truth.
“May God have mercy on the innocent victims, and we pray for the swift recovery of the injured.”
BBC also reported a comment on the Victim killed in the synagogue attack, ‘like an angel’, neighbour says
Abdul Rahimi says his neighbour, Adrian Daulby, was a “very good guy, always helpful”
Abdul Rahimi, a neighbour of Adrian Daulby, who was one of the two Jewish men killed in yesterday’s attack, says the 53-year-old was “like an angel”.
Daulby and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were named earlier today as the victims killed in the attack at Heaton Park synagogue.
Rahimi says Daulby was known for treating local children as if they were “all his kids”, and they would exchange gifts during festivals.
He says all their neighbours were shocked and it was “very, very sad news for us”.
“He was a very good neighbour, very good guy, always helpful.”
