On the morning of October 2, 2025, the tranquility of Yom Kippur at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, was shattered by a violent attack that has left the community reeling and authorities searching for answers. As worshippers gathered for one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar, Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old man born in Syria and granted British citizenship in 2006, drove his black Kia Picanto through the synagogue gates and into the crowd, wielding a knife in a rampage that police quickly declared a terror incident.
According to the BBC, new doorbell camera footage has emerged, shedding light on the moments leading up to the attack. The footage, timestamped 09:22 BST, shows a man matching Al-Shamie’s description walking away from the synagogue after a confrontation in which he had been told to leave. Just four minutes later, the same camera records the black Kia Picanto—its back right hubcap missing, a detail matching the vehicle used in the attack—heading back toward the synagogue. At 09:31, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received the emergency call that would set off a rapid and tragic chain of events.
Within minutes, two Jewish men—Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53—were dead. Mr. Daulby, in a heartbreaking twist, is believed to have been fatally wounded by a police bullet as officers fired at Al-Shamie in the chaos. Three others remain hospitalized, grappling with the physical and emotional wounds of that morning. The attack, which combined the use of a car and a knife, has prompted an intensive investigation by GMP and Counter Terrorism Policing North West.
In the aftermath, four individuals were detained on suspicion of terror offences following raids in Prestwich and Farnworth in Bolton. Two others arrested on the day were subsequently released without charge. Police have been granted more time to question those in custody, as they work to establish the full picture of what led to this tragedy. Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson assured the public that “every available resource” is being used to “understand precisely what has happened,” promising that “no stone is being left unturned.” He acknowledged the community’s need for answers, stating, “There is a limit to what I can say at this juncture in terms of the dynamics of that investigation, suffice to say that we know that there are answers that people require, and those answers will be forthcoming as soon as it is appropriate to give them.”
For many in Manchester’s Jewish community, the loss is personal and profound. The funeral for Adrian Daulby was held just days after the attack, with mourners remembering him as a quiet man who became a “hero” in his final moments. Rabbi Daniel Walker, who led the service, recalled, “I watched him leap from his seat, run to the door. He braced the doors and he held the doors against our attacker.” Volunteer security guard Ivor Rosenberg, who confronted Al-Shamie before the attack, told the BBC that he believed he would have been killed had he been armed, reflecting on the narrow margins that separated life and death that morning.
As investigators dig into Al-Shamie’s background, troubling questions have arisen about whether warning signs were missed. A neighbor revealed to the BBC that she had contacted police during the coronavirus pandemic, expressing concern about suspicious activity at Al-Shamie’s home—specifically, men “coming and going” and a relative who had become increasingly withdrawn and spent all his time praying. “My partner and I were really worried,” she said. “I did feel something was not quite right.” Despite calling the emergency 999 system and speaking to a female operator, she never received a follow-up from police. She also recounted that Al-Shamie had suffered a serious head injury as a teenager during a family holiday, requiring treatment abroad, and described him as stricter and more unfriendly than the rest of his family.
Other local residents echoed her unease, describing Al-Shamie as “not a nice person” and recalling incidents of aggressive behavior, such as swearing on the phone and avoiding contact with neighbors. One resident remembered seeing him winding up his car window—again, the same black Kia Picanto—when she left her house, after overhearing an angry phone call.
Despite these reports, Greater Manchester Police have maintained that Al-Shamie “did not appear to be known to Counter Terrorism Policing” and had not been referred to the Prevent counter-extremism service. Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor confirmed this, though he did note that Al-Shamie was believed to have been influenced by extreme Islamist ideology. At the time of the attack, Al-Shamie was on police bail, having been arrested on suspicion of rape—a detail that has raised further questions about the monitoring and support structures for individuals on bail for serious offenses.
The BBC further reported that the Independent Office for Police Conduct is now investigating the circumstances that led to Mr. Daulby’s death by police bullet, as well as the broader police response to warnings about Al-Shamie. The neighbor’s claim that she warned police about Al-Shamie four years prior to the attack is now part of ongoing investigations and public debate about how such warnings are handled.
As the investigation continues, the Manchester community is left grappling with grief, fear, and a sense of unresolved questions. The attack has reignited discussions about security at places of worship, the challenges of monitoring potential threats, and the importance of community vigilance. It has also prompted soul-searching about the balance between civil liberties and public safety, especially when individuals are on bail for serious crimes or display signs of radicalization.
For now, the focus remains on supporting the victims and their families, as well as ensuring that the full facts come to light. Police have promised transparency, and the Jewish community—along with the city of Manchester as a whole—awaits the answers that may help prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
In the midst of sorrow and uncertainty, the acts of bravery by Adrian Daulby, Melvin Cravitz, and others who tried to shield their fellow worshippers stand as a testament to the resilience and courage that can emerge even in the darkest of moments.
