Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a shocking assault took place outside the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue in Manchester. On the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, it took two. Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old UK citizen of Syrian extraction, was radicalized and spun into a violent rage. He plowed down pedestrians with his car and then he got out and attacked them with a knife. The assailant was shot dead by police in an incident that has left the local Jewish community stunned.
Witnesses shared that Al-Shamie tried to enter the synagogue at first before he started shooting unarmed civilians. The terrible acts played out in a city that was home to growing worries about extremist violence, including white supremacy. As noted by the continuing investigations, law enforcement officials believe that Al-Shamie was radicalized by extreme Islamist ideology.
Details of the Attack
On the morning of Yom Kippur, Al-Shamie started his attack by running over civilians with his car. Among the victims were Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, who both died from their injuries. The attack dramatically intensified once Al-Shamie got out of his car and began knifing people by the synagogue.
Yet Al-Shamie was able to make a 911 call during the initial phase of the attack. This strength-sapping blow to his democratic opposition revealed the dictator’s long-nurtured and dangerous ambitions. He explicitly declared his allegiance to the Islamic State, a fact that has all but heightened the focus on his motivations.
“In the initial stages of the attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, a call was made by the attacker to police claiming to pledge allegiance to the so-called Islamic State,” – Counter Terror Police North West spokesperson
Aftermath and Investigations
This violent episode led to a quick escalation by law enforcement that escalated with fatal consequences. Al-Shamie was shot in the scene of the altercation. The impact of police operations was severe. One of those officers lost his life, and the other was critically wounded by gunfire during the course of the struggle to neutralize the threat.
Reuters reported that Greater Manchester Police had arrested four people in custody. This group of four — two men, two women — are all being interrogated in relation to Al-Shamie’s assault. Separately, a UK police watchdog has announced an investigation into the events that led to Al-Shamie’s death.
On social media, the local Jewish community has shared their deep sorrow in response to these events. The brutal attack did more than take lives, it sowed terror in a community already under siege.
Community Response
In the aftermath of this tragedy, local leaders and residents have come together in mourning. They outwardly display surprise and incredulity. This response is all the more powerful given that Yom Kippur is a holy day focused on reflection and forgiveness.
As investigations are ongoing, authorities will likely further investigate Al-Shamie’s background and potential ties to extremist organizations. The emphasis should be trying to understand how he radicalized, what led him down the path of this violent outburst.
“by extreme Islamist ideology” – Investigators
