One of the victims who died in the synagogue attack in Manchester and the other injured were likely shot by an armed officer aiming to become a killer, police said Friday.
Police said they believe the two victims will lean behind the doors of a synagogue in a city in Northern England to prevent attackers from entering when the attacker is shot dead.
The entry came the day after two Jewish worshipers were killed and three others were seriously injured in a car charge and stabbing attack outside the synagogue of Yom Kipur, the holiest day of Judaism. The suspected attacker was also killed by police.
Manchester Police Chief Stephen Watson said one of the deceased victims “appears to have suffered from a wound that coincides with a gunshot wound.”
He said that the police believed the suspect, Jihad Al Shami, had no gun, so it must have been a police shooting that struck the victim.
“The only shot fired was due to a GMP-sanctioned firearm, as the offenders worked to prevent them from entering the synagogue and causing further harm to the Jewish community,” he added.
“Therefore, when subjected to further forensic testing, this injury may have sadly been maintained as a tragic and unexpected consequence of the urgently necessary actions taken by my officers to end this malicious attack.”
The two men killed in the attack were named Adrian Doorby, 53, and Melvin Kravitz, 66. Police did not say which of the two men was believed to have been shot by officers.
Police said three people were being treated at hospital for injuries during the attack. One suffered from a gunshot wound, one was stabbed and struck by a car involved in the attack.
An announcement from the police came as British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer had visited the site of the attack.
Police said Thursday that armed officers arrived at the Heaton Park Hebrew Conference, outside of Manchester, Crumpsall, just minutes after receiving a call from a member of the public that their cars had been driven by people outside the synagogue.
Police said the shooting was fired by officers at the scene, and later confirmed that the assailant was killed by police. Videos from the scene showed weapons screaming instructions to bystanders and worshippers inside the synagogue, pointing them at those lying on the ground.
This story has been updated.
