A former Tory cabinet minister has revealed that his father-in-law was present at the Manchester synagogue attack as he called on the public to “stand unshaken against hate”.
Sir Grant Shapps, who is Jewish, said it was “chilling” to hear his father-in-law’s “first-hand account” of the attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation on Thursday, in which two men were killed.
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In a post on X, Sir Shapps, who has served in various Conservative cabinet posts, including home secretary and defence secretary, said: “Yesterday’s terrorist attack on Manchester’s synagogue was an assault on the Jewish community and our shared humanity; hearing my father-in-law’s chilling first-hand account brings home the horror, as we mourn the lost, pray for the injured, and stand unshaken against hate.”
Elaborating on the account, Sir Shapps told The Times newspaper that his father-in-law, Michael Goldstone, came “face-to-face” with al Shamie from inside the synagogue, where he is a member of the congregation.
He said: “He was face-to-face with the terrorist, holding the inside of the door, as he tried to break down the front doors.
“They locked the doors when the car crashed into the gate, which prevented more killings.”
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The two men killed outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Thursday’s attack have been named by police as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66.
One of the victims killed in yesterday’s attack was shot mistakenly by officers during the armed response, Greater Manchester Police believe.
The suspect has been named as Jihad al Shamie – a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent.
He is understood to have been granted British citizenship in 2006, having entered the UK as a young child.
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His family have condemned the “heinous” attack, which they said targeted “peaceful, innocent civilians”.
“We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened,” his relatives wrote on social media.
Read more:
What we know about the synagogue attack in Manchester
Worshippers leave synagogue to hear news of attack
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has confirmed to Sky News that the perpetrator was not known to counter-terror police and that he had not been referred to the government’s anti-terrorism scheme Prevent.
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In a visit to the scene of the attack on Friday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said “this was a dreadful attack, a terrorist attack to inflict fear. Attacking Jews because they are Jews.
“It’s really important today that the whole country comes together, people of all faiths and no faith, stand in support and solidarity with our Jewish community,” he said.
