Manchester synagogue attacker shot multiple times by police

The Manchester synagogue attacker was shot multiple times after running “aggressively” towards armed police, armed with a knife and wearing what appeared to be a suicide belt, the inquest heard.

Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was shot minutes after driving and stabbing the Heaton Park synagogue in the city’s Crumpsall area on October 2.

53-year-old Adrian Daulby and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz were killed, while three other people were hospitalized.

Members of Al-Shamie’s family attended the hearing via video link as the inquest was opened and adjourned at Manchester Coroner’s Court.

The court heard Al-Shamie was identified by his fingerprints and “circumstantial evidence” at the scene, including his mobile phone and car.

Investigation into two victims opened on wednesdayHe heard that Mr Cravitz had been stabbed and that Mr Daulby had died from a gunshot wound to the chest inflicted by police.

Al-Shamie, a Syrian-born British national, began his rampage by driving his Kia Picanto into security guards and the outer gates of the synagogue as worshipers gathered for Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews.

CCTV footage at the scene shows Al-Shamie driving his car into the gates and outer wall of the synagogue at 09:30 BST, attacking a security guard, then attacking worshipers and security guards with a knife.

He then tried to attack the synagogue wearing a fake suicide belt before being shot dead.

Det Ch Supt Lewis Hughes told the hearing that armed officers responding to the call “fired a number of shots” at Al-Shamie, who “ran aggressively towards them armed with a knife and wearing what was clearly presented as a suicide belt”.

He added: “Al-Shamie suffered multiple gunshot wounds and collapsed.”

The inquest heard Al-Shamie was not declared dead until 16:38 BST due to concerns about the belt around his body.

The hearing was also attended by representatives from Greater Manchester Police, the government’s legal department, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, the Independent Police Conduct and the North West Counter Terrorism Policing Office.

Judge Alexia Durran, chief coroner for England and Wales, handed over Al Shamie’s body to his family for burial.

The investigation was postponed until February 19.