Manchester, UK—The immediate aftermath of the terrorist attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on October 2, 2025, has been overshadowed by a devastating revelation: armed police officers, in their rapid response to neutralize the threat, inadvertently shot and killed one worshipper and seriously injured another. The incident, which unfolded on the solemn day of Yom Kippur, has transformed the narrative of heroism into one of profound grief and scrutiny for Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
The attack, carried out by 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie via a vehicle ramming and subsequent knife assault, was brought to an end just seven minutes after the initial emergency call. While the quick deployment of armed police prevented the terrorist from breaching the synagogue and inflicting mass casualties, the use of deadly force came at a tragic cost to the very people officers were there to protect.
GMP Confirms Fatal ‘Friendly Fire’
Initial reports focused on the fatalities of two men—Adrian Daulby (53) and Melvin Cravitz (66)—and three serious injuries resulting from the terrorist’s actions. However, the true source of some of the injuries was confirmed in a follow-up statement by GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson on October 3.
Watson announced that forensic and medical examinations indicated one of the deceased, Adrian Daulby, had suffered a fatal gunshot wound from police fire. Furthermore, another hospitalized victim, identified as Yoni Finlay, also sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
Chief Constable Watson expressed the force’s “profound regret” over the “collateral” harm, calling it a “tragic and unforeseen consequence” of their efforts to halt the assault. He stressed that Al-Shamie was not armed with a firearm, meaning the only shots fired came from GMP’s Authorized Firearms Officers.
Both Daulby and Finlay were lauded as heroes, injured while courageously helping to barricade the main synagogue door against the knife-wielding terrorist. Their final, selfless act was intended to save the lives of the many worshippers gathered inside. The fact that their injuries were sustained by police bullets as they performed this heroic deed has amplified the anguish and shock felt by the community.
The Victims and Their Injuries
The attack claimed the lives of two men and left three others in the hospital with serious injuries. The victims have been identified as:
| Victim (Age) | Status | Mechanism of Death/Injury | Role/Context |
| Adrian Daulby (53) | Deceased | Fatal Gunshot Wound (Police Fire) | Worshipper and Hero: Physically resisted the attacker to prevent him from entering the synagogue. |
| Melvin Cravitz (66) | Deceased | Fatal Injuries (Likely Stab Wounds) | Worshipper and Hero: Physically resisted the attacker outside the synagogue. |
| Yoni Finlay (Unspecified) | Seriously Injured | Gunshot Wound (Police Fire) | Worshipper: Sustained injury while helping to barricade the synagogue door against the attacker. |
| Unidentified Victim 1 | Seriously Injured | Stab Wounds (Attacker’s Knife) | Likely a security guard or pedestrian stabbed by Al-Shamie. |
| Unidentified Victim 2 | Seriously Injured | Vehicle Impact Injuries (Attacker’s Car) | Pedestrian struck by Al-Shamie’s car outside the premises. |