Manchester Synagogue Attack: Seven Minutes of Terror

 Everybody else get back if you're not informed.  A deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester  on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Manchester police are saying they are at the scene of a reported stabbing. There's someone in the crowd shouted, "He's got something on him." And as I turned around, he was literally stabbing at the synagogue window door trying to get him. >> Police shot dead the attacker, 35-year-old Jied Al Sherei. On behalf of the nation, I want to offer my condolences to the families and victims affected. >> Don't fight hatred with hatred. You don't fight violence with violence. >> A nation in shock, a community in fear. >> Obviously, a deep sense of sadness given that people who I know have been murdered attending synagogue on the holiest day of the Jewish year. The place, one of this country's largest Jewish communities. The time, as the morning service was due to begin on Yam Kapoor, the most solemn of religious holidays. A confrontation that left two Jewish men and a knife wielding attacker dead. Events at Heaton Park Synagogue will be investigated by the security services for months to come. But already we know the elements of what happened. The two men killed were 66-year-old Melvin Kravitz and Adrien Dolby who was 53. Greater Manchester police said that one of them had been hit by police gunfire as they shot the attacker. A number of other people were taken to hospital with serious injuries. So what do we know about what happened? Greater Manchester is home to about 25,000 Jewish people, the largest population in the UK outside London and the Southeast. Police have said they received a call from a member of the public on Thursday just after 9:30 after reports of a car being driven at people at the Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsel. Armed police were on the scene just 3 minutes later. They were on alert for an event such as this. At 9:37 a.m., Greater Manchester Police declared a major incident and began a national anti-terror response. Then at 9:38, armed police opened fire. BBC Verify has been analyzing footage of the moment when Greater Manchester police fired those shots. A key video shows two armed officers with their weapons pointing at a suspect lying on the ground. One of the officers then approaches the fence shouting at onlookers. >> The video continues and shows a man wearing a kipper, a Jewish cap, lying in a pool of blood. We've heavily blurred this because it's too graphic. Seconds later, the man being watched by police attempts to get up. Sharp cracks ring out and the man falls back to the ground. Eyewitnesses described how synagogue security staff stopped the attacker from getting inside the building. >> He was on the floor fighting for his life and then literally someone in the crowd shouted, "He's got something on him." And as I turned around, he was literally stabbing at the synagogue window door trying to get in. >> Behind the closed doors of the temple, worshippers attempted to continue their services. The man who stopped the attacker by barricading the door was Rabbi Daniel Walker. I was looking out of the window in the door at the man trying to get in and I saw evil and I saw hate >> and we will not allow that to beat us. >> Cuz on your side of the door you saw something else too, didn't you? >> What was that? >> Yes, I I saw genuine heroism. I have to say people who ran um to help others when rather than running away. Um, it was astonishing. >> Greater Manchester Police were on the scene at 9:34. Here's the force's chief constable, Sir Steven Watson. >> At this time, we know that a car was driven directly at members of the public outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Middleton Road, Crumbsell in Manchester. The driver of the car was seen then to attack people with a knife. He was wearing about his body a vest which had the appearance of an explosive device. There were a large number of worshippers attending the synagogue at the time of this attack. But thanks to the immediate bravery of security staff and the worshippers inside as well as the fast response of the police. The attacker was prevented from gaining access. >> As you've heard, Sir Stevens said the attacker's belt appeared to be an explosive device. Later, they confirmed it wasn't viable. The man was named as 35-year-old Jahel Sheme, a British citizen who'd come here from Syria. His father, Farah Joshi, issued a statement saying the news of the terror attack had been a profound shock to them. He added that his family strongly condemned the heinous act and expressed their deep sorrow for the victims and their families. Some people on the estate where the suspect lived described him as a weightlifter who never spoke to his neighbors. Simon Baras is one of them. >> Well, I've seen him going to the shops across the road. Um, I've seen him in his back garden using his weights, but that's about it. Knowing that a terrorist is living under my nose, you know, within from here to that address, what is it? 2-minute walk if that. And for to have somebody like that living on my estate is scary. Very scary. >> The home secretary, Shabbana Mahmood, told the BBC that jihad ali was not on the counterterrorism police radar. He came to this country uh as a small child. Uh was naturalized as a British citizen uh when he was still a minor in the mid 2000s around 2006. He was not known to counter terror police. There had not been a prevent referral uh for him. Uh before uh that is the information that we currently have that I can share. She also said she was disappointed pro Palestinian protest went ahead on Thursday. The Home Secretary called for demonstrators to step back from planned marches. On Thursday, Prime Minister Sakir Starmer cut short a visit to Copenhagen and promised to do everything in his power to protect Jewish people. And he said Britain must defeat anti-Semitic hate. >> On behalf of our country, I express my solidarity, but also my sadness that you still have to live with these fears. Nobody should have to do that. Nobody. And so I promise you that I will do everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve, starting with a more visible police presence, protecting your community. >> That was on the day of the attack. On Friday, the prime minister visited the synagogue and met with members of the emergency services. Saki said he would ensure the Jewish community was safe and secure. There has been widespread condemnation of the attack. The UK's chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mvvis, told us that there has been a growing rise in hatred against the Jewish community. >> Right now, our hearts are shattered. What transpired yesterday was uh an awful blow to us. Something which actually we were fearing might happen. Um but it still came as a shock. Uh it came as no surprise to anybody um because of the buildup to this action. And this is a very dark time not just for Jews of Britain but for all of our society because this wasn't merely an attack against Jews. It was an attack against the values of our society. >> Rafi Bloom who sits on the board of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester was on his way to the synagogue when the attack happened. He says the government needs to do more to keep people safe. >> We are fearful. British Jews are openly questioning whether we have a future in this country, whether my children and my grandchildren have a future in this country. We have been warning about this for two years. Our politicians say very nice words about increasing physical security at our synagogues and our communal institutions and our Jewish schools, but they have failed to act for two years on this hate that has been attacking the Jewish community. And if they mean what they say, that they are proud of our British Jewish community, then we need them to act. >> On Friday afternoon, hundreds gathered in Manchester to remember the victims of the attack. >> We know how you feel. I know how I feel. >> Religious and city leaders were joined by the deputy prime minister David Lammy. We have allowed it to wear on the children's school was closed today. You have allowed yourself. >> As he was delivering his message of unity, Mr. Lami was boomed. >> Stand together today. We must stand in Greece. >> It appears the heckles were for the government's decision to recognize a Palestinian state. The suffering caused by the attack in Manchester sadly isn't new either to the city or the country as a whole. Perhaps what makes what happened in North Manchester different was its targeted nature against a religious minority at a place of worship. With conflict around the world and growing extremism online, it's easy to see why many people in the UK are saying they're becoming increasingly fearful.