‘My cousin is fighting for his life after synagogue attack’

A man who was stabbed while attempting to stop the Manchester synagogue attacker is fighting for his life in hospital, his relative has said.

Robert Rosenfield said his second cousin Andrew remained in a “really bad way” in a critical care unit after he was stabbed in the neck and chest in the attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall on Thursday.

Speaking at a vigil near the site of the attack earlier, Mr Rosenfield said “the whole thing had been atrocious”.

“But then to find out someone so close to you and in your family, it makes it hit home even harder,” he told the BBC.

“Unfortunately we’ve worried and thought this would happen at some point and now it has.”

Mr Rosenfield said his relative had been stabbed in the chest.

“He did have a vest on and he was stabbed in the neck while trying to deal with the attacker,” he said.

“He’s in critical care in a really bad way at the moment.”

Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, died after the perpetrator drove a car at members of the public before stabbing people outside the synagogue.

Greater Manchester Police later confirmed one of the victims was hit by police gunfire as they shot the attacker just seven minutes after the alarm was raised.

Three further victims – including Andrew – remain in hospital following the attack.

The BBC understands that one of those Yoni Finlay was the man hit by police gunfire at the synagogue.

Mr Rosenfield said he was not 100% certain of the exact details but he believed Andrew was outside the synagogue before being dragged inside.

He said he had heard about gunshots before being told that a family member was involved.

“You’re worrying about your family and friends and the kids and an hour later and I heard it was a member of my family who had been involved in this atrocity,” he said.

“I fear for his life at the moment. I just hope he pulls through.”

He added that being Jewish in the UK had “always been quite a fearful thing”.

“I did own a kosher bakery and we were always told we needed security and had to be careful,” he said,

“We do worry all the time and now this has happened and it really hits home that we aren’t safe in this country and something needs to be done about it.”