The man who carried out the deadly attack outside a synagogue in Manchester, northern England, pledged allegiance to ISIS during the execution, police said Wednesday.
In the early stages of the attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue last Thursday, the assailant called police and said he was pledging allegiance to the so-called Islamic State, a spokesperson for the Northwest Counterterrorism Police Department said in a statement.
Jihad al-Shami, 35, a Syrian-British man, was named by police last week as the suspected attacker. He was shot and killed by firearms officers at the scene.
The attack occurred on Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said two men were killed in the attack, identified as Adrian Dolby, 53, and Melvin Kravitz, 66. Both victims were from Crumpsall, the Manchester suburb where the violence occurred.
Police said Friday that one of the men was likely shot and killed by armed officers who were targeting the gunman, adding that they believe the victim was huddled behind the synagogue door when he was shot, trying to prevent the gunman from entering.
GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson said on Friday: “The shots were fired by a GMP authorized firearms enforcement officer who was attempting to prevent the gunman from entering the synagogue and causing further harm to the Jewish community.”
“Further forensic examination therefore sadly indicates that this injury may have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently needed action by my police officers to bring an end to this vicious attack,” he added.
Police said al-Shami “may have been influenced by radical Islamist ideology.” He was recently arrested on suspicion of rape but was released on bail “pending further investigation”, GMP said. It is unclear where the crime took place.
This story has been updated as developments occur.
