Two killed in Manchester synagogue attack, attacker pledged ISIS

A man drove a car into worshippers and then attacked people with knives outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, on Thursday morning, killing two congregants and injuring others before armed officers shot him dead, police said. The attacker was later identified as 35 year old Jihad AlShamie. Counterterrorism investigators said he phoned emergency services during the assault to claim responsibility and to pledge allegiance to Islamic State.

Police and counterterror officers have described the sequence of events as follows. Witnesses told synagogue security the man had been acting suspiciously about 15 minutes before the main attack and walked away when challenged. He returned in a black Kia, drove at bystanders and struck a wall, then emerged armed with at least one knife and a second blade. He was also wearing a device that was assessed and confirmed to be nonviable. Firearms officers arrived quickly and shot the attacker; officers reached the scene within minutes and the suspect was killed a short time after they were alerted.

Two men were named by Greater Manchester Police as the victims: Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53....