Top Stories

I saw evil as attacker tried to barge into synagogue, rabbi tells BBC

Judith MoritzSpecial correspondent, Heaton Park and
Tom McArthur
Getty Images Rabbi David Walker outside the synagogue dressed in white robes.Getty Images

A rabbi has told of the moment a man tried to barge into his Manchester synagogue during a deadly attack, telling the BBC "I saw evil, I saw hate".

Rabbi Daniel Walker said he and others held the doors of Heaton Park synagogue as Jihad Al-Shamie was "body charging the doors, throwing heavy plant pots, doing whatever he could to get in".

Praising the quick-thinking of those at the synagogue, rabbi Walker said: "I saw genuine heroism, I have to say, and people who ran to help others rather than running away. It was astonishing."

Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both died after the attacker drove into people and stabbed a man on Thursday.

Three others remain in hospital with serious injuries. Police have named Jihad Al-Shamie, who was shot dead at the scene, as the attacker and are treating the attack as a terror incident.

Rabbi Walker said the incident happened before the Yom Kippur service was in full flow, and later there would have been hundreds of people in attendance.

He said: "If one gentleman in particular hadn't acted as quickly as he did and got the doors locked, [we] can imagine what would have happened."

Describing how the incident unfolded, he said a number of people held the doors shut from the inside to make sure the attacker could not get in.

At some point after the police arrived, rabbi Walker said two other people inside the building were hurt.

One man was killed and another person injured by police gunfire, Greater Manchester Police has said.

A statement from the force named the man shot by police as Adrian Daulby.

Speaking to the BBC, rabbi Walker said he would do his best to offer comfort to the families of those killed and the wider community.

"There is fear but there is also support", he said.

"I believe and hope that we can provide reassurance and hope. I believe very strongly that we can't allow this to beat us".


Source link

Leave A Comment


Last Visited Articles:


Info Board

Visitor Counter
0
 

Todays visit

47 Articles 7773 RSS ARTS 15 Photos

Popular News

🚀 Welcome to our website! Stay updated with the latest news. 🎉

United States

216.73.216.213 :: Total visit:


Welcome 996.73.996.993 Click here to Register or login
Oslo time:2025-10-03 Whos is online (last 1 min): 
1 - United States - 20.111.201.231
2 - United States - 666.63.666.663
3 - France - 53.75.339.353


Farsi English Norsk RSS