A HERO rabbi barricaded Jewish worshippers inside a synagogue after a terrorist killed two outside — before the fiend was shot dead by cops just seven minutes later.
Daniel Walker — leading a Yom Kippur service — was hailed for his quick-thinking after the fanatic targeted the temple yesterday morning.
The knifeman was seen with a ‘suicide belt’ outside the synagogue
He was fought off by a hero rabbi and his worshippers during a deadly rampageReuters
AFPRabbi Daniel Walker with a bloodstained robe[/caption]
Witnesses said he remained calm before locking the doors as the man stabbed innocent victims.
Officials last night confirmed the attacker as being 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a Syrian who came to the UK as a child and was granted British citizenship in 2006.
Three others — two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s — have been arrested.
Officers also praised the security staff working at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester.
Al-Shamie was said to have lived in a council house in nearby Prestwich for ten years, with a neighbour saying: “He had no wife or kids that I could see. He never seemed to speak to anyone around here.”
Two people, including a security guard, died in the horror and three more were last night in hospital in a serious condition.
Al-Shamie first struck at 9.31am when he drove a black Kia Picanto car into a crowd gathering outside to celebrate Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
I was bewildered, because the adrenaline kicks in and you’re just kind of like ‘am I really hearing that?’
Rob Kanter
A member of the public called police as the terrorist stabbed at people.
Gun cops were sent at 9.34am and a major incident declared at 9.37am as police, paramedics and fire crews flooded the scene.
At 9.38am, just seven minutes after the first call to the police, shots were fired at the suspect, who was wearing what appeared to be a suicide bomb vest — which was later discovered to be fake.
Police and MI5 security service officers believe he was likely to have been inspired by Islamic terrorism and “is highly likely to have been working alone”.
They last night said their records do not show Al-Shamie had any previous referrals to the Prevent anti-terror programme.
Witnesses yesterday told of the heroics of Rabbi Walker, as well as staff and worshippers at the synagogue.
Chava Lewin, who lives next-door, said: “Rabbi Walker was incredibly calm — he shut the doors to the synagogue to stop (the attacker) getting inside.
“He barricaded everyone inside. He is a hero. This could have been even worse.”
Of the attack, she added: “I heard a banging sound and I thought it might be a firework.
“I spoke to someone who said she was driving and saw a car driving erratically and it crashed into the gates.
“The second he got out of the car he started stabbing anyone near him.
A car was driven into people at the synagogue’s gatesFacebook
One of the victims lying in a pool of bloodFacebook
The attacker on the ground after an officer firesFacebook
“He went for the security guard and tried to break into the synagogue. He was in the courtyard. Someone barricaded the door. Everyone is in utter shock.”
Rob Kanter, 45, who was in the synagogue when the attacker went on the rampage, told The Sun: “We could hear when the police arrived, heard some shots, then the police came in and we were taken out from the main centre part of the synagogue, moved to safety in the back hall and then, of course, we were taken out of the premises.
‘Immediate bravery’
“I was bewildered, because the adrenaline kicks in and you’re just kind of like ‘am I really hearing that?’. I think my first response was ‘how are we going to keep myself and everyone else safe?’.”
Greater Manchester Police officially declared the attack a terror incident at a press conference.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson also hailed synagogue heroes, saying: “There were a large number of worshippers attending the synagogue at the time of this attack, but thanks to the immediate bravery of security staff and worshippers inside, and the fast response of the police, the attacker was prevented from gaining access.
“All those inside were safely contained until police were able to confirm that it was safe to leave the premises.”
Mr Watson added: “Yom Kippur is a day where we see our Jewish community attending their places of worship — places where they and their families should feel entirely safe from harm.”
Another cop tells onlookers to move awayFacebook
The attacker tries to stand after being shotFacebook
Taking no chances, an officer shoots againFacebook
Hours after the attack police arrested two men at a house in a nearby street. A witness said they were taken away in handcuffs.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the Met Police’s head of counter terrorism policing, said: “This morning, an appalling attack took place in Manchester. Two people have died. The attacker has been shot dead by the police.
“We believe we know their identity, but for safety reasons, we’re unable to confirm at this stage.
There’s only so much the security guards can do. If someone comes at them with a knife or a gun, we’re all dead.
Shoshi Loofe
“We have also made two arrests, and based on what we know, counter-terrorism policing has declared this as a terrorist incident.”
Manchester has a Jewish population of more than 30,000, the highest in the UK after London.
One member of the local Jewish community, mum-of-three Shoshi Loofe, 40, told The Sun: “It’s terrifying. I go to the synagogue every weekend. There’s only so much the security guards can do.
“If someone comes at them with a knife or a gun, we’re all dead.”
King Charles said in a statement: “My wife and I have been deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horrific attack in Manchester, especially on such a significant day for the Jewish community.
‘Terrible incident’
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this appalling incident and we greatly appreciate the swift actions of the emergency services.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the families of the terrible attack.
“The fact that this tragedy occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more shocking.
“We are thinking of the entire community as well as the emergency responders who attended this terrible incident.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood met Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and local Jewish leaders yesterday afternoon.
AFPStreet prayers being held after the attack[/caption]
She said: “I am horrified by the news of an attack at a synagogue on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
“My first thoughts are with the victims, our brave police and emergency services.”
Mr Burnham last night visited the scene and said: “Our thoughts are with the families of those people who died, those injured, and those traumatised by this — a horrific antisemitic attack on our Jewish friends and neighbours. We condemn it outright.
“Greater Manchester will never stand aside when one of our communities is attacked . . . we will never let them succeed.”
HEROES AT THE DOOR
Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, believed to have been motivated by the situation in Gaza, had driven his car into the gates of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. He then started knifing people.
The attack left two dead and three injured.
Of those injured, one suffered a stab wound and one was struck by the car involved in the attack.
A police spokesman said a third later went to hospital with an injury “that may have been sustained as officers stopped the attacker”.
Greater Manchester Police added: “We are working to formally identify those who have tragically been killed and provide support to their loved ones, in addition to the injured and the wider community.”
Chilling footage from a passing van driver caught the moment police warned bystanders to clear the area over fears Al-Shamie was wearing a bomb. Police later revealed the device was not viable.
Counter-terror cops said last night that Al-Shamie was a British citizen of Syrian descent.
Three suspects were in custody last night having been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.
A police spokesman said: “Based on what we currently know, their records do not show any previous Prevent referrals relating to this individual.”
PM Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack last night and conceded that antisemitic hatred was “rising once again”.
He said: “Britain is a country where Jewish buildings, synagogues, even schools require round the clock protection, where dedicated specialist security is necessary because of the daily threat of antisemitic hatred.
Today’s horrific incident shows why.
“And while this is not a new hate — this is something Jews have always lived with — we must be clear, it is a hatred that is rising once again, and Britain must defeat it once again.”
Last night, Israel’s premier Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Israel grieves with the Jewish community in the UK after the barbaric terror attack in Manchester. Our hearts are with the families of the murdered, and we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded.”
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