Manchester synagogue attacker Jihad al Shamie issued a chilling six-word threat before beginning his rampage, a horrified onlooker has revealed. Volunteer security guard Ivor Rosenberg was outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue when he spotted al Shamie, 35. Mr Rosenberg immediately thought “he’s up to no good” after hearing al Shamie’s conflicting stories about looking for his car and a pub, he recounted to Sky News.
He told the outlet: “He looked at me and said ‘what are you looking at?’. I just said, ‘I don’t know’… he said ‘you’re very brave inside the fence’… and he walked away.” The volunteer then heard “an almighty bang” as he walked back towards the synagogue. He saw synagogue chairman Alan Levy locking the main door as he ran to the office and called 999.
He added: “I was screaming at them – ‘we’re under attack, we’re under attack!’. I could hear him banging on the doors, trying to get in – threatening to kill everyone.”
From the window, Mr Rosenberg saw al Shamie wielding a “large knife” and banging on the door. He ran to get chairs to barricade the door, which he helped keep shut with nine or 10 others.
Greater Manchester Police had arrived on scene at this point and opened fire on the attacker, accidentally hitting two people on the other side of the door.
One of the men hit in the crossfire was Yoni Finlay, who is still recovering in hospital.
Mr Rosenberg recounted: “I was terrified … I screamed – he’s getting up again. I stood back and we could hear a shot. Yoni – who was standing just a couple of feet away from me – dropped down to the ground.”
The two deceased were Adrian Daulby, 53, who was also hit by a stray bullet and sadly died from his injuries, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, who died after trying to prevent al Shamie from entering the synagogue.
Mr Rosenberg explained the heartbreaking ordeal of holding Mr Finlay after watching him get shot, hailing the victims as “heroes”.
He said: “He said ‘I’ve been hit’. I think the bullet came through him and hit Mr Daulby. I thought ‘we’re all going to die’ for a minute. It was terrifying. I took my jacket off and cradled Yoni’s head. It was very, very scary.”
Al Shamie was shot dead by police outside the synagogue, while four others have been arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts and remain in custody.