Manchester synagogue volunteer describes confronting attacker

Manchester synagogue volunteer describes confronting attacker

At a Manchester synagogue, Ivor Rosenberg, a volunteer security guard, recounted his encounter with the man responsible for the attack on worshippers. Alongside paid security guards, Rosenberg was on duty at Heaton Park synagogue before a Yom Kippur service. He described being alerted to a “suspicious-looking man” who claimed to be searching for a nearby pub before disappearing down an alleyway next to the synagogue.

After spotting the man gazing into the synagogue, Rosenberg questioned his intentions. The man claimed to be looking for his car, but Rosenberg, sensing something amiss, asked him to leave. Despite being initially confronted, the attacker later returned to the synagogue, defying orders to depart and asserting his right to move freely in the country.

The assailant, identified as Jihad Al-Shamie, left the synagogue on foot only to return in a car, driving into and attacking worshippers. Rosenberg, upon hearing the crash and commotion, quickly sought refuge inside the building along with another volunteer. They barricaded themselves in while the assailant threatened them and attempted to gain entry, prompting a distressed call to the authorities.

Expressing concern for the safety of the Jewish community, Rosenberg emphasized the gravity of the events that unfolded, indicating a worrying trend for the future. The devastating attack resulted in the tragic deaths of Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, with the latter being fatally wounded by police fire at the assailant. As preparations for the Sukkot festival are underway within the Jewish community, the lingering impact of the attack looms over the upcoming celebrations, providing a stark reminder of the vulnerability faced by worshippers

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