A public inquiry will examine the deaths of two men killed during an attack at a synagogue in Manchester, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced on the first anniversary of the incident. Melvin Cravitz, 66, died from multiple stab wounds, and Adrian Daulby, 53, was killed by police gunfire as he attempted to prevent the attacker from entering the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on October 2, 2025. The attacker, 35-year-old Syrian-born UK citizen Jihad Al-Shamie, was shot dead by police during the assault, which occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews.
Mahmood stated that the inquiry, requested by the coroner, is intended to ensure "all evidence can be heard," including sensitive national security material that could not be fully presented in the coroner's court. "What happened that day must be fully understood," she said.
The investigation comes after a police review revealed that Al-Shamie's mobile phone, containing evidence of his extremist mindset, was seized by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) prior to the attack. However, the significance of the data was not realized because the devices had not been examined before the synagogue incident. "Regrettably, I can confirm that the significance of the information stored on Al-Shamie's devices was not realised, as they had not been examined before the attack took place," said a GMP representative. The police acknowledged this as a "missed opportunity" and expressed deep apologies for any additional distress caused to those affected by the events.
Three other individuals sustained serious injuries during the attack. The inquiry aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Cravitz and Daulby.