In the quiet Manchester suburb of Crumpsall, the morning of October 2, 2025, began like any other. But as worshippers gathered at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue to observe Yom Kippur—the holiest day in the Jewish calendar—tragedy struck in a way few could have anticipated. Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old Syrian-born British citizen, launched a deadly attack that left two men dead, three others hospitalized, and a city grappling with shock, fear, and questions about how such violence could erupt so close to home.
Chilling footage, published by BBC News and the Daily Mail, captured Al-Shamie minutes before the assault. Wearing a light brown coat and a black backpack, he was seen walking furtively toward the synagogue just after 9:20 a.m., only to be confronted by volunteer security guard Ivor Rosenberg and told to leave. Moments later, Al-Shamie returned in his battered black Kia Picanto—distinctive for its missing rear wheel trim—and drove it through the synagogue gates, directly at the crowd of worshippers. Armed with a knife, he attempted to force his way inside as panic erupted. Within seven minutes of the first 999 call at 9:31 a.m., armed police arrived, and Al-Shamie was shot dead. But the chaos and violence had already claimed the lives of Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53. Daulby, in a tragic twist, was fatally hit by a police bullet as he tried to keep the attacker out, an act of bravery that would later be hailed as heroic by friends and family alike (Daily Mail).
The attack sent shockwaves through Manchester’s Jewish community and beyond. Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson of Greater Manchester Police emphasized the scale of the investigation: "Every available resource [is] making sure that we understand precisely what has happened. No stone is being left unturned." The force confirmed that two innocent victims sheltering in the synagogue were hit by rounds discharged by armed officers, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct launched an investigation into the circumstances of Daulby’s death (BBC News).
Adrian Daulby’s courage in the face of terror became a focal point of public mourning. At his funeral, Rabbi Daniel Walker described how Daulby, a quiet man, leapt from his seat to brace the doors against Al-Shamie’s assault. "His final act was one of profound courage and he will forever be remembered for his heroic act on Thursday 2 October 2025," Daulby’s family said in a statement. Another worshipper, Yoni Finlay, was also seriously injured by a ricocheting police bullet as he helped barricade the doors—a detail confirmed by both his family and ITV News.
As investigators pieced together Al-Shamie’s background, a disturbing portrait emerged. According to Sky News, friends and acquaintances described a man whose behavior had become increasingly erratic in recent years. Qas, a former friend, recounted how Al-Shamie began radicalizing himself by searching for Islamic State videos on the encrypted messaging app Telegram. “Once, he even tried to show me one at the shisha lounge. I told him to go away and asked how he even got access to that content, and he said it was through Telegram. After that, I didn't see him for a long time until I heard what had happened.”
Another friend, Asim, told Sky News that Al-Shamie’s demeanor shifted about a year prior to the attack. “He changed a bit, I felt his thoughts were a bit too radical for me. He was a nice guy, very quiet and softly-spoken. I was shocked about what he did.” Asim also revealed Al-Shamie had started asking for large sums of money—thousands of pounds—and would become angry if refused. This unpredictable behavior was compounded by financial troubles; Al-Shamie was under a government debt relief order in 2024, which meant his debts would be paid off in a year if he adhered to certain restrictions. He had also been employed part-time as a call handler for the RAC motoring organization from December 2024 to March 2025, but his contract was not renewed (Sky News).
Al-Shamie’s personal life was equally tumultuous. He was married multiple times in Islamic wedding ceremonies, sometimes before ending previous relationships. He became obsessed with an Islamic dating app, using aliases and reportedly sending abusive messages to an ex-girlfriend. That ex-girlfriend told the Manchester Evening News that Al-Shamie tried to groom her into radical beliefs and revealed disturbing details about his "rape fantasies." She described feeling pressured to watch extremist videos and recounted his attempts to control her dress and behavior.
Neighbors, meanwhile, painted a picture of a man who seemed stricter and more withdrawn than his family. One neighbor told BBC News she had called police during the coronavirus pandemic, concerned about suspicious comings and goings at Al-Shamie’s home and about a relative who had become increasingly isolated and devout. She said, “I did feel something was not quite right,” but never received a follow-up from police. Other locals described Al-Shamie as unfriendly and noted his tendency to swear at people from his car.
Despite these warning signs, Greater Manchester Police and Counter Terrorism Policing said Al-Shamie had not been referred to the Prevent counter-extremism program and was not known to counter-terrorism authorities. However, at the time of the attack, he was on police bail, having been arrested on suspicion of rape. Four people remain in custody on suspicion of terror offences after subsequent police raids, while two others have been released without charge (BBC News).
Al-Shamie’s family publicly condemned his actions. His father, Faraj Al-Shamie, a trauma surgeon with the International Committee of the Red Cross, issued a statement: “The al Shamie family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act, which targeted peaceful, innocent civilians. We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened.” Yet, it also emerged that two years prior, on October 7, 2023, Faraj Al-Shamie had praised Hamas militants for their attack on Israel, suggesting a complicated family background and raising further questions about radical influences (Sky News).
The attack has also sparked wider tensions in Manchester and across the UK. On the evening of the attack, pro-Palestine activists staged rallies in Manchester and London, drawing criticism for the timing and nature of the demonstrations. Police made hundreds of arrests at a major protest in London that Saturday, as authorities moved to clamp down on groups recently proscribed as terrorist organizations (Daily Mail).
As the investigation continues, Manchester’s Jewish community—and the city at large—remains shaken but resolute. The heroism of individuals like Adrian Daulby and Yoni Finlay, and the swift response of police, have been sources of solace amid the grief. Yet the lingering questions about missed warning signs, radicalization, and the challenges of preventing lone-wolf attacks ensure that the search for answers is far from over.
