Hundreds of tearful family, friends and well-wishers packed out the funeral service on Sunday for one of the two victims of Thursday’s Manchester synagogue terror attack. Rabbi Daniel Walker, who barricaded the synagogue door to protect worshippers inside, led the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation and the wider Jewish community in Pendlebury, Salford, in paying respect to Melvin Cravitz, 66.
Mourners filled the cemetery forecourt, with many standing outside the prayer hall in the rain, listening to the service and the eulogy over loudspeakers. Mr Cravitz died after twisted terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, rammed a car into and stabbed worshippers gathering for a service to mark Yom Kippur – the holiest day of the Jewish calendar – at Heaton Park Synagogue.
A second victim – Adrian Daulby, 53 – was accidentally shot dead by Greater Manchester Police armed officers outside the synagogue as he and Rabbi Walker barricaded the door from the inside to stop Al-Shamie.
In a tribute released on Friday, Mr Cravitz’s family asked for privacy and said he would “do anything to help anyone”.
They said: “He was so kind, caring and always wanted to chat and get to know people. He was devoted to his wife, family and loved his food.”
Anthony Khan, a 35-year-old neighbour who said he knew Mr Cravitz “all my life”, said: “He was friendly with everybody – he did not have a bad word with anybody.”
Another neighbour, Andy Kordas, said: “He always used to come over and have a chat and ask me what I was up to. He always had a smile on his face. It’s just terrible.”
Bilal Ahmad, who said he had lived in the area for 20 years, added that Mr Cravitz was a “very nice guy” and “very calm”.
“He would always say hello when you came past.”
Mr Daulby was described as a “hero” by his family in a tribute. They also said the 53-year-old was “a beloved brother and loving uncle”.
Three other men were taken to hospital with serious injuries. One of them – father-of-three Yoni Finlay – was also accidentally shot by the GMP firearms officers but is expected to make a full recovery.
Police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) says it is carrying out an investigation to establish the facts of what happened at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.
GMP confirmed two victims had been shot as a “tragic and unforeseen consequence” after armed officers arrived at the scene just seven minutes after the 999 alarm was raised and shot Al-Shamie dead, as he wore a fake suicide bomb belt.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said the only shots fired during Thursday’s incident in Crumpsall, north Manchester, were by his armed police as the terrorist did not have a firearm.
Al-Shamie is understood to have struck up a friendship with a 46-year-old NHS Mental health peer support worker, in Bolton, Greater Manchester, who has since been arrested by police.
Her home in Bolton was raided on Friday night by dozens of armed officers and uniformed police, with neighbours in the peaceful street reportedly hearing ‘screams and shouts’.
She is one of four people still being questioned by detectives after officers were granted extra time to question them.
Two men, aged 30 and 32, as well as a 61-year-old woman arrested in Farnworth will also remain in custody for “up to a further five days”.
The force added an 18-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man, also arrested in Farnworth, have since been released pending further enquiries.
