Two men killed in an attack on a synagogue in Manchester have been named by police as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66
Three others are in hospital with serious injuries after a man drove a car at members of the public before stabbing people on Thursday.
The attack came on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar. Police have declared it a terrorist incident
Police said they believe the attacker, who was shot dead at the scene, was Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, a British citizen of Syrian descent. The home secretary said he had not been previously been know to authorities.
Al Shamie “was not know to counter-terror police,” Shabana Mahmood told BBC Breakfast on Friday, adding that there had been no referral to the UK anti-terror programme Prevent.
The attack involved a car being driven towards members of the public outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue a little after 09:30 BST on Thursday.
Thursday’s attack was “the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come”, the UK’s Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis said.
It was the “tragic result” of an “unrelenting wave of Jew hatred”, he said in a statement made on Thursday.
It was not only an “assault on the Jewish community, but an attack on the very foundations of humanity”, he added.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the “vile individual” who carried out the “horrific” attack, and promised to do “everything” in his power to protect Jewish people and defeat antisemitic hate.
Greater Manchester police said it was supporting the families of the two men killed.
“My deepest sympathies are with Mr Daulby and Mr Cravitz’s loved ones at this extremely hard time,” Det Ch Supt Lewis Hughes said.
He said trained family liaison officers were in contact with them and would continue to support them through the coronial process.
“Whilst there are processes which must be followed, we commit to being mindful of cultural preferences and sensitivities and to ensuring that these men and their loved ones’ wishes are respected,” he said, adding that the two men were from Crumpsall.
Post-mortems are taking place on Friday, the Home Office said.
A neighbour who lives near the attacker’s home said police arrived at the Prestwich residence on Thursday evening “armed to the teeth”.
Simon Barlass told BBC’s Newsnight programme had barely spoken to Al-Shamie, having only seen him walking to the shops or using weights in his garden.
“To have somebody like that living on my estate, it’s scary,” he said.
