A SECURITY guard who helped barricade the synagogue during the deadly terror attack has described how the horror unfolded.
Jihad Al-Shamie was shot dead by police during his car and knife rampage at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, on Thursday morning.
Alan Levy (right) speaking to Sky News about the attack
FacebookKiller Jihad Al-Shamie carried out the knife and car rampage[/caption]
Killer Al-Shamie outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester
Two people other died – including one from a police bullet – and three more were rushed to hospital amid the incident, which lasted just seven minutes, on what was the most holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Alan Levy said she was in the car park when he saw Al-Shamie, who he described as a “jihadist monster”.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “I was there when he crashed his car into the synagogue gates and ran down the security guard that was there and attacked a volunteer security guard and tried to gain access into the synagogue.”
Alan then ran into the synagogue and helped to get it locked down.
He and others worked together to barricade the doors and halt the attacker who was “shoulder-charging the doors trying to get in”.
He went on to say: “He was throwing plant pots at the glass. He was using a knife to try and get in.
“These brave men basically saved the community from further harm.”
Alan said all he could think was “we’ve got to keep these doors closed”.
He described how Al-Shamie was “trying each door in turn” and the congregation had to keep putting pressure on each to prevent him getting in.
The two victims have been named as Adrian Daulby, 53, a member of the congregation, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, a worshipper at the synagogue.
Alan’s son, Marc, also told Sky politics correspondent Nick Martin about the moment he first heard of the attack, saying “it’s impossible to articulate the worry” as he awaited news of whether his family were safe.
Marc said he’s been going to the synagogue since he was child and was aware his dad was on shift at the time.
He then saw Alan on TV coverage and realised he was alive.
Six people have been arrested in relation to the attack, but two have since been released without charge.
Cops have since revealed Al-Shamie was on bail over a suspected rape at the time of the rampage – though the Home Office has said he was not on the radar of counter terror cops.
Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating Greater Manchester Police’s handling of the shooting, and says it will examine “whether police may have caused or contributed to the death” of Mr Daulby.
Al-Shamie, 35, thought to be of Syrian descent, was given British citizenship in 2006 having arrived as a young child.
Armed officers gunned him down amid fears he was wearing a bomb – though it was later determined to be a fake.
Secret NHS nurse ‘wife’
It comes after The Sun revealed yesterday, the extremist secretly “married” an NHS nurse who converted to Islam, according to a source.
Elizabeth Davis, 46, is said to have told her family about him only after the synagogue attack.
Al-Shamie’s first marriage reportedly fell apart six months ago.
The Sun on Sunday cannot confirm if mum-of-five Elizabeth, of Bolton, was legally his second wife.
ReutersAl-Shamie was shot dead after the attack on the synagogue[/caption]
Elizabeth Davis is said to have converted to Islam four years agoFacebook
HandoutThe synagogue attacker spent hours in his bedroom playing Street Fighter[/caption]
A source said: “Liz converted to Islam four years ago.
“Her conversion caused tensions with her family, they say she became a totally different person after that.”
They added: “It’s possible she got married to him in an Islamic law ceremony.”
Al-Shamie was on bail after being arrested on suspicion of rape and was due to appear in court.
Teen dropout obsessed with Street Fighter
The Sun on Sunday also revealed how Al-Shamie was a stoner teenage school dropout who was obsessed with violent video game Street Fighter, according to a friend.
The pal – who lost touch with the extremist several years ago – said he would smoke around 2g of strong skunk a day when he was a teen and frequently felt the wrath of his parents.
And he said he spent hours in his bedroom playing the computer game using the name “Jiji”.
His obsession led to Al-Shamie dropping out of Liverpool John Moores University a year into his English, media and cultural studies degree course in 2011.
The former pal said: “He was a bit of a rebellious wild child. He got into a lot of trouble with his parents. He used to smoke cannabis from an early age.
“He would spend a lot of time practising Street Fighter, like obsessively practising this computer game. He was very good at it, to the point where he competed a couple of times in competitions.”
One YouTube video from August 2010 shows Al-Shamie taking part in what appears to be the European Console League in Liverpool.
The friend went on to say Al Shamie became “reclusive” after dropping out of education and started to practice Islam around 2018.
Neighbours said he would spend his time lifting weights in his garage or wander around in his pyjamas and flip flops.
He said he was worried Al-Shamie would go down a “rabbit hole”, adding: “He had an addictive personality. My suspicion is that he ended up self-radicalising.”
Armed police officers at the scene of the attackReuters Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
