A father of three was injured by a stray police bullet while heroically preventing a Manchester synagogue attack by blocking the front door, the Daily Mail has learned.

Yoni Finlay thwarted the attacker, identified by authorities as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, from entering Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester last Thursday.

Al-Shamie, a British citizen with Syrian roots, was shot dead by armed police shortly after he fatally stabbed two men during Yom Kippur, the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar.

Four others were also injured. Three are seriously hurt, with one suffering stab injuries, and another hit by a car. 

Mr Finlay, who lives near the synagogue, was taken to hospital following the attack and is said to have undergone surgery.

It is unclear whether he was accidentally shot or was injured from shrapnel and flying glass from the impact of the bullet on the door.

A friend commented, ‘We found out that Yoni was one of the courageous individuals inside, keeping the terrorist from entering the synagogue by barricading the door.’

‘He was hospitalized due to injuries from either a stray police bullet or shrapnel and flying glass sparked by the bullet striking the door. The complete details remain unclear.’

‘We don’t know how serious he is either but are hoping that he will be ok. He suffered wounds to the side of his stomach below his ribs and around his waist.’

A member of the Heaton Park Synagogue, who knew Mr Finlay, added: ‘My wife saw him being taken into an ambulance on a stretcher.

‘As far as I know he’s undergoing surgery this evening. We don’t yet know how he is but are hoping he’ll be ok.’

Two men aged in their 30s and a woman in her 60s have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism, police said.

It comes after the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the suspect, who was wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest, was an Islamic terrorist.

Al-Shamie drove a car into a crowd outside the synagogue before he started stabbing people at 9.31am. He was shot dead within seven minutes of the first 999 call being made. 

It is understood he entered the UK as a young child and was later granted British citizenship in 2006 when he was still a minor.

It is not known whether he came to the UK as an asylum seeker or whether it was through another immigration route, such as ‘family reunion’ which can allow foreign nationals to join relatives already in Britain.

In an update this evening, Greater Manchester Police said: ‘We are now able to confirm that, although formal identification is yet to take place, we believe the person responsible for today’s attacks is 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie.

‘He is a British citizen of Syrian descent.

‘A suspicious device worn by the attacker during the incident has been assessed and was deemed not to be viable.

‘Based on what we currently know, our records do not show any previous Prevent referrals relating to this individual.’

Sir Keir Starmer saluted those who bravely stopped Al-Sahmie from carrying out more bloodshed.

The PM gave a statement from 10 Downing Street where he hailed emergency services and security saying they had ‘no doubt whatsoever prevented an even greater tragedy’.

Greater Manchester Police chief constable Sir Stephen Watson said the bravery of security staff and worshippers had stopped the knifeman from entering the building.  

Rabbi Daniel Walker was one of those who blocked the entrance to the ‘packed’ synagogue and was hailed a ‘hero’ by one worshipper. 

He was later seen outside comforting other people who broken down in tears. 

Rabbi Walker’s wife, Esther, was informed about what happened when officers knocked on her door.  

She was unaware of what had happened or able to contact him as she was prohibited from using her mobile phone or switch on her television or radio during Yom Kippur.

‘I was so relieved but, beyond the fact he’s alive and not hurt, I don’t know anything,’ she told The Telegraph.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Chava Lewin said: ‘Rabbi Walker was incredibly calm, he shut the doors to the synagogue to stop him getting inside.

‘He barricaded everyone inside. He is a hero, this could have been even worse.’

Shortly after police shot the the man, Rabbi Walker was seen outside, his white kittel – the traditional robes worn by Jewish religious leaders – seemingly covered in blood. 

Worshipper Rob Kanter, 45, was in the barricaded synagogue and told how Rabbi Walker was providing as much pastoral support as he could. 

He described the terrifying moment the Heaton Park Shul was placed into lockdown – but said most of those inside were able to remain calm. 

‘We knew there was a commotion because we had already made sure all of the doors and windows were shut,’ he said. 

‘I would say the mood amongst our fellow congregants was very calm. Everyone deals with these things in their own way, but generally, everyone was very calm and dignified.’

He said the worshippers evacuated across Middleton Road to a nearby relief centre.

‘The rabbi was providing as much pastoral support in the circumstances as he could,’ he said.

‘We’ve obviously got to police quarters, and we continued to do part of the service, because at the end of the day, of course, it’s awkward and it’s difficult and people have got a multitude of emotions going on, but we carried on.

‘We did not the whole service, but we did what we could in the circumstances.

‘Your mind’s on many things, but our Rabbi’s role was to try and say “yes, this is a terrible tragedy, but at the end of the day, we want to try where possible to remember today is the Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement” and we did as much as we could as a group.’

Police patrols have been ramped up outside synagogues across Britain as the PM vowed to the Jewish community that he would do ‘everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve’.