Manchester's Synagogue Attack Victims Named as Interior Minister Confirms Assailant Was Unknown to Law Enforcement
The two individuals killed in Thursday's attack on a synagogue in Manchester have been identified as fifty-three-year-old Adrian Daulby and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, authorities confirmed.
Greater Manchester police said official confirmation is yet to take place but their relatives have been notified and family liaison officers are in contact.
Six-Minute Terror Occurs
The men were lost their lives when an attacker used a vehicle to ram into the grounds of the local Jewish worship center in Crumpsall, then stabbed worshippers in a brief rampage that concluded when armed officers fired upon him.
Additional individuals were critically wounded in the attack on Yom Kippur, the most sacred occasion in the Hebrew year.
Attacker Named
Police identified the attacker on yesterday evening as the 35-year-old, thirty-five, a British citizen of Syrian descent.
Greater Manchester police revealed that additional individuals – two males in their thirties and a female in her 60s – had been detained “on suspected involvement of commission, preparation and encouragement of terrorist activities”.
Government Comments
The interior minister has confirmed that the individual who perpetrated the violent incident in the region was unknown to the security services.
“Regarding the perpetrator, this individual was unknown to the security services,” commented Shabana Mahmood.
“He has reportedly been shot dead at the location, but the official inquiry will now proceed rapidly.”
Postmortem examinations of the victims – both of whom are from the local area – will take place later on Friday.
Increased Protection Arrangements
The security service and counter-terrorism police will operate at a elevated readiness level in the near future, reflecting apprehension that the recent violent incident may be followed by others.
Security presence at synagogues nationwide is to be increased.
Jewish Population Effects
Perceptions of safety in the UK's Jewish population have declined sharply in the recent period, according to the most comprehensive survey of British Jews.
The research found thirty-five percent of Jews felt unsafe in Britain in the current year, compared with nine percent in two years prior.
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