What we know about Manchester synagogue attack

Two Jewish people were killed and three left in a serious condition after a car ramming and stabbing attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday.

The victims have been named as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. One of the victims was hit by police gunfire "as a tragic and unforeseen consequence" as officers shot the attacker, Greater Manchester Police said.

The suspect, who was shot dead at the scene, has been named as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent.

The attack occurred during worship at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar, and was treated by police as a terror incident.

Here is what we know so far about the attack.

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

• 'Shocked but not surprised': Jewish community reacts to synagogue attack

How did the attack unfold?

Worshippers displayed "immediate bravery" in stopping the attacker getting inside, police said

According to a witness, Jihad al-Shamie was twice confronted at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue prior to the attack when volunteer security guards felt he was acting suspiciously.

Shortly after, at around 09:22 BST, doorbell footage obtained by BBC News shows Shamie, 35, walking away from the synagogue after being told to leave.

At 09:26 BST, the same camera captured a black Kia Picanto matching the vehicle used in the attack heading back towards the synagogue.

The attacker rammed the gates of the synagogue with the car and attacked worshippers with a knife. Security guard Ivor Rosenberg, 78, told BBC News: "I heard this almighty bang, turned around and saw the car, a dark car, smashed into the wall and gates."

He and fellow volunteer Alan Levy ran into the building, barricaded the doors and called police. Rosenberg said he could hear the attacker outside, shouting threats to kill those inside.

Outside, another witness said she saw the car "rushing past and driving straight for the members of the public". She then saw a man "jump out" with a knife and "go on a bit of a rampage," calling the scene "traumatising."

Gareth Tonge, another eyewitness who was driving his delivery van near the scene, told the BBC, he saw a man "bleeding out on the floor," while the attacker stabbed at the synagogue windows trying to get inside.

He described police arriving within minutes, shouting warnings, then opening fire: "They gave him a couple of warnings, he didn't listen so they opened fire. The man holding the knife went down … then started getting back up and they shot him again." He called the experience "nerve-racking" to witness.

• Eyewitnesses describe Manchester synagogue attack

Crowds gathered near the scene as a police cordon was put in place

Inside, Rabbi Daniel Walker described the attacker "body-charging the doors, throwing heavy plant pots, doing everything he could to get in" as worshippers held them shut. One of those helping, Adrian Daulby, was fatally struck by police gunfire "as a tragic and unforeseen consequence."

Greater Manchester Police praised the "immediate bravery" of worshippers and security staff in preventing the attacker from entering the building.

A bomb disposal unit was deployed after "suspicious items" were spotted around the suspect's waist. Police later confirmed the device was fake. An SAS helicopter, nicknamed "Blue Thunder," circled overhead as part of the national counter-terrorism response. The attack was then declared a terrorist incident.

Who are the victims?

Melvin Cravitz, 66, was described as "a very nice guy" and "calm"

The two Jewish men killed in the attack were named as 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz and 53-year-old Adrian Daulby.

Both were from Crumpsall, where the synagogue is located, police said.

A statement from Greater Manchester Police said that Mr Daulby died after being struck by police gunfire while helping to hold the doors of the synagogue shut to prevent the attacker entering.

Mr Daulby's family paid tribute to their "hero" who died during "the act of courage to save others".

"The family is shocked by the tragic, sudden death of such a lovely down to earth man," the tribute added.

Adrian Daulby's family have said he was a hero

Mr Cravitz was a worshipper at the synagogue when the attack happened. Greater Manchester Police originally said he was a security guard but later issued a clarification.

His family described him as a "kind, caring" man who was devoted to his wife and family.

Three other men were taken to hospital with serious injuries, one of whom - Yoni Finlay, who also helped to hold the synagogue doors closed - also suffered a gunshot wound.

Two others sustained serious injuries - one from a stab wound, the other struck by the car - but their names have not been made public.

What do we know about the suspect?

An image taken near the scene on Thursday shows a man believed to be the suspect with suspicious items around his waist, which police later said were not viable

Police have named the man who carried out the attack as Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, a British citizen of Syrian descent who was living in Prestwich, Manchester.

It is understood he entered the UK as a very young child, and was granted British citizenship in 2006 as a minor.

Greater Manchester Police said late on Friday that at this stage in its investigation it believes Al-Shamie "may have been influenced by extreme Islamist ideology".

But it said establishing the full circumstances of the attack will likely take some time.

His family said in a statement: "We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened.

"Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we pray for their strength and comfort."

The suspect's name has not appeared in initial searches of police and security service counter-terrorism records.

But Greater Manchester Police said he had a non-counter-terror criminal history, including "a recent arrest for rape, which resulted in him being bailed".

A police source told the BBC Al-Shamie was on police bail for an alleged rape when he carried out the attack.

Greater Manchester Police said six other suspects have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.

Police initially said they had arrested two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s. It later said one man and two women, aged between 18 and mid-40s, had also been arrested.

A women aged 18 and a 43 year-old man were released on 4 October with no further action, police said.

The home secretary said on Sunday morning that four people remained in custody.

• Who was the Manchester synagogue attacker?

Warning: This section contains graphic images that some readers may find upsetting

An image of the attacker, verified by the BBC, was taken from just outside the perimeter fence of the scene on Thursday morning.

The man's appearance matches that of a man seen being shot by police at the same location in verified video from the scene of the attack.

A photo from the scene shows the body of the attacker being examined by a bomb disposal technician.

The body of the attacker was examined by bomb disposal technicians

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer visited the scene of the attack on Friday

What is Yom Kippur?

Members of the Jewish community pictured near the scene

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar.

It is a solemn time of fasting and atonement thought to be the day God seals the fate of each person for the coming year. Work is forbidden as the day is set aside for prayer and reflection.

Many who do not regularly attend synagogue services often do so on this day.

Sir Keir said "additional police assets" would be deployed at synagogues across the country after the attack.

He said in a statement: "The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific."

"We will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe."

Additional reporting by Tom McArthur