In a shocking revelation, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that one of the two victims killed in yesterday’s Manchester synagogue terror attack died from police gunfire rather than at the hands of terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie. The devastating admission came as Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson issued an extraordinary statement this morning acknowledging the “tragic and unforeseen consequence” of officers’ actions.
The Home Office Pathologist has provisionally determined that one of the deceased victims, either Adrian Daulby, 53, or Melvin Cravitz, 66, suffered wounds consistent with a gunshot injury. A second victim currently receiving hospital treatment has also been found to have sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound from police fire.
The horrifying friendly fire incident occurred as armed officers desperately tried to prevent Al-Shamie from entering Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation during Yom Kippur services yesterday morning. Both victims struck by police bullets were positioned close together behind the synagogue door as brave worshippers acted to block the terrorist’s entry.
Chief Constable’s Full Statement
In an unprecedented disclosure at 11:05 this morning, Chief Constable Watson revealed: “The Home Office Pathologist has advised that he has provisionally determined that one of the deceased victims would appear to have suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury.
The senior officer continued: “It is currently believed that the suspect, Jihad Al Shamie, was not in possession of a firearm and the only shots fired were from GMP’s Authorised Firearms Officers as they worked to prevent the offender from entering the synagogue and causing further harm to our Jewish community.”
Watson acknowledged the tragic reality: “It follows therefore, that subject to further forensic examination, this injury may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers to bring this vicious attack to an end.”
The Chief Constable added: “We have also been advised by medical professionals that one of the three victims currently receiving treatment in hospital has also suffered a gunshot wound, which is mercifully not life threatening. It is believed that both victims were close together behind the synagogue door, as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry.”
Timeline of Terror and Tragedy
The revelation adds a devastating new dimension to yesterday’s attack, which unfolded at 9:31am as Al-Shamie, 35, rammed his black Kia Picanto into crowds of Jewish worshippers before launching a frenzied knife attack. The terrorist, wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest, attempted to storm the packed synagogue where dozens of congregants, including children as young as six, were observing Judaism’s holiest day.
Armed officers arrived within minutes and shot Al-Shamie dead at 9:38am, just seven minutes after the first emergency call. The rapid police response was initially hailed for preventing a potential massacre inside the synagogue, where witnesses described worshippers heroically holding the doors shut against the attacker.
The confirmation that Al-Shamie was not armed with a firearm means all gunshot injuries sustained during the incident came from police weapons. Officers fired multiple rounds to neutralise what they perceived as an imminent threat to life, particularly given the terrorist’s apparent suicide vest, which was later found to be fake.
Victims’ Families Facing Double Tragedy
The disclosure that one victim died from police gunfire rather than terrorist action will devastate the families of Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz, both beloved members of Manchester’s Jewish community. The Home Office post-mortems conducted this morning will definitively establish which victim was struck by the police bullet.
Detective Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes had earlier expressed deepest sympathies to the families, with specially trained Family Liaison Officers providing support. The revelation about the true cause of death adds an unbearable complexity to their grief.
The third hospitalised victim who sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound is understood to be recovering. Three other men remain in hospital with serious injuries from the car-ramming and knife attacks carried out by Al-Shamie.
Questions About Police Response
The friendly fire tragedy raises immediate questions about police tactics during terror incidents, particularly in crowded civilian areas. Greater Manchester Police officers were confronted with a rapidly evolving situation where a terrorist wearing what appeared to be an explosive device was attempting to enter a synagogue packed with worshippers.
The split-second decision to open fire came as Al-Shamie, described by witnesses as acting “like a robot”, methodically attacked anyone with a Jewish appearance. Eyewitness Huram Rafiq said the terrorist was “stabbing everyone he could get to” after ramming pedestrians with his vehicle.
Officers would have been acutely aware of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people and the potential for mass casualties if Al-Shamie had gained entry to the synagogue. The presence of what appeared to be a suicide vest would have heightened the perception of immediate danger.
“Tragic and Unforeseen Consequence”
Chief Constable Watson’s description of the friendly fire death as a “tragic and unforeseen consequence” acknowledges both the devastating outcome and the impossible circumstances facing his officers. The Armed Firearms Officers were “working to prevent the offender from entering the synagogue and causing further harm to our Jewish community” when the fatal shot was fired.
The positioning of victims “close together behind the synagogue door” suggests they were part of the group of congregants courageously trying to barricade the entrance against Al-Shamie. Their proximity to the terrorist when police opened fire appears to have resulted in the catastrophic friendly fire incident.
Video footage from the scene shows armed officers pointing weapons at Al-Shamie as he lay on the ground outside the synagogue. When he attempted to stand, officers fired, with witnesses reporting they believed he was trying to detonate his vest.
Investigation and Accountability
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will now conduct a mandatory investigation into the police shooting, standard procedure when officers discharge firearms resulting in death or serious injury. The investigation will examine whether the use of lethal force was justified and proportionate given the circumstances.
Greater Manchester Police have pledged full cooperation with the IOPC investigation. The officers involved in the shooting will be required to provide detailed accounts of their actions and decision-making during those critical seven minutes between the first 999 call and Al-Shamie’s death.
The revelation comes as three suspects remain in custody on suspicion of planning terrorism. Two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s were arrested at properties in Crumpsall and Prestwich following the attack.
Community in Shock
The Jewish community, already reeling from yesterday’s terror attack during Yom Kippur, now faces the additional trauma of knowing one of their own was killed by police bullets intended to protect them. The bitter irony that those trying to save lives inadvertently took one will weigh heavily on all involved.
Rabbi Daniel Walker, who was at the synagogue during the attack, had praised police for their rapid response. The congregation had continued their Yom Kippur prayers in the street after the incident, with worshippers determined not to let terrorism disrupt their faith.
This morning’s revelation adds another layer of tragedy to an already devastating attack that has heightened fears about antisemitism in Britain. The Community Security Trust recorded more than 1,500 antisemitic incidents in the first half of 2025, the second-highest six-month total ever reported.
National Response
The friendly fire disclosure will likely prompt urgent reviews of police protocols for responding to terror incidents, particularly in situations involving multiple civilians in close proximity to attackers. Questions will be asked about rules of engagement, training for mass casualty scenarios, and communication during rapidly evolving threats.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who visited the scene yesterday, will face pressure to address the friendly fire death and ensure lessons are learned. The government had already announced increased security at synagogues nationwide following the attack.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who chaired an emergency COBRA meeting yesterday, has not yet responded to the friendly fire revelation. He had previously praised emergency services for their swift response to the “vile” attack.
Unprecedented Disclosure
The Chief Constable’s decision to publicly disclose the friendly fire death before the completion of formal investigations represents an unusual level of transparency from Greater Manchester Police. The force appears to have chosen immediate honesty over waiting for the IOPC investigation’s conclusion.
This transparency may help maintain public trust, though it will do little to ease the anguish of a community now grappling with the knowledge that police action, however well-intentioned, resulted in the death of an innocent worshipper.
As Manchester’s Jewish community prepares for the funerals of Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz, they must now reconcile gratitude for police bravery with grief over its tragic consequences. The officers who responded to yesterday’s terror attack acted with courage and speed to prevent further carnage, yet their actions have added an unbearable complexity to an already horrific tragedy.
The full investigation into both the terrorist attack and the police response will take months to complete. For now, a community united in grief must process the devastating truth that in trying to save them, police inadvertently became the instrument of one victim’s death.
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