The father of the man responsible for attacking a synagogue in Manchester, Jihad Al-Shamie, has spoken of his family’s profound shock and sorrow, expressing strong condemnation of his son’s ‘horrific actions.’

In a Facebook post, Jihad’s father, Faraj, emphasized the family’s wish to ‘completely dissociate’ from Thursday’s tragic event, which was perpetrated by the terrorist originally from Syria.

Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead by armed police during his rampage outside Manchester’s Heaton Park Synagogue which left two Jewish men dead.

Faraj, who works as a trauma surgeon in war zones around the globe, said their thoughts and prayers were with the victims and their families. 

His statement said: ‘The news from Manchester regarding the terrorist attack targeting a Jewish synagogue has been a profound shock to us. 

‘The Al-Shamie family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act, which targeted peaceful, innocent civilians.

“We completely separate ourselves from this incident and express our deep shock and sadness for what occurred. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and we wish them strength and comfort.”

They added: ‘May God have mercy on the innocent victims, and we pray for the swift recovery of the injured.’

Al-Shamie was shot dead seven minutes after he targeted the packed synagogue.

Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both died following the incident. They were members of Manchester’s Jewish population.

This statement by Al-Shamie’s family was released as Greater Manchester Police disclosed today that one of the deceased victims was likely unintentionally shot by law enforcement.

The police fired multiple rounds to stop Al-Shamie, who had driven his vehicle into a crowd of synagogue attendees before launching a knife assault.

At the time of the incident, it was feared he had an explosive suicide belt on. However, this device later proved to be fake. 

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) today claimed that during its ‘urgent’ response to the unfolding terror attack, two worshippers were inadvertently hit by stray rounds. 

One suffered fatal injuries, while the other sustained non life-threatening wounds. Both gunshot wound victims are believed to have been among those trying to barricade the door while Al-Shamie attacked. 

Officers have not confirmed which of the two men who died in yesterday’s tragedy was shot.  

In a statement, GMP said: ‘Following the terrorist incident yesterday at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, Middleton Road, Crumpsall; further and urgent enquiries continue. Overnight, we have taken advice from the Home Office Pathologist ahead of full post mortem examinations scheduled for later today.

‘The Home Office Pathologist has advised that he has provisionally determined, that one of the deceased victims would appear to have suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury.

‘It is currently believed that the suspect, Jihad Al Shamie, was not in possession of a firearm and the only shots fired were from GMP’s Authorised Firearms Officers as they worked to prevent the offender from entering the synagogue and causing further harm to our Jewish community.

‘It follows therefore, that subject to further forensic examination, this injury may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers to bring this vicious attack to an end.

‘We have also been advised by medical professionals that one of the three victims currently receiving treatment in hospital, has also suffered a gunshot wound, which is mercifully not life threatening. 

‘It is believed that both victims were close together behind the synagogue door, as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry.

‘Our thoughts and prayers remain with all of the families, and the wider community, impacted by this incident across Greater Manchester and beyond. Specialist officers are providing support and care for all of those directly affected, including our brave first responders.’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited GMP’s HQ earlier today, as well as the scene of synagogue killing. 

Praising officers for their response to the terror attack, the PM added he had seen body-worn footage of the incident. 

‘I am absolutely clear in my mind of the professionalism of the response, the speed of the response, and also that an absolutely awful incident would have been even worse if it hadn’t been for your response,’ the PM said.

‘So thank you is a really important two words at a time like this, and I say thank you to each and every one of you, and through you to all the other people that were there responding yesterday and ask that to be passed on to all of those.’

Oliver Laurence, who spent 12 years as an armed police officer, described the accidental shooting as a ‘tragedy’.

Mr Laurence, who is group CEO of Periculum Security Group, added the officers’ lives would ‘now be put on hold’ while a lengthy IOPC investigation is carried out.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: ‘The priority of any armed response, when you know it’s an active terrorism matter, is to minimise the loss of life for anyone not involved in the attack. The priority is neutralise the offender.

‘It’s absolutely tragic in these circumstances when you have an armed officer engaging with a terrorist and members of the public are caught up in crossfire.

‘These officers are making life-or-death decisions in a split second in order to minimise the loss of life. Those decisions will come with significant consequences.

‘There will be a thorough IOPC investigation to this, when the circumstances of the shooting will become clear.’

He added: ‘Having carried a firearm for over 12 years, these situations happen very fast, you make quick decisions and try to minimise the loss of life. Ultimately, you don’t go to these jobs wanting to shoot someone and kill them.

‘However, these armed officers would have known they’re dealing with a very dangerous person who is likely not to come easy, so they already know they’re going to have to make these very difficult decisions.’

Mr Laurence said firearms officers were trained to target ‘centre mass’ – the chest – to take down armed attackers.

Assault rifles using .556 calibre rounds were designed to ensure the bullets did not rip through the body of an attack, he added.

Officers can also use ‘hollow-point’ bullets, which are designed to break up inside the body on impact, minimising the risk of collateral damage, he said.

However, Mr Laurence warned it was possible that even the most ‘highly-trained’ officers could still miss from close range, particularly when an attacker is moving.

‘That’s why officers shoot for centre mass,’ he added. ‘It’s the best target. People often say, ‘why can’t you just shoot the knife out of someone’s hand’? Because you’ll miss.

‘There are situations where highly-trained counter-terrorism officers can shoot elsewhere like the head to neutralise someone they believe might have a bomb.

‘But this all become more difficult if you’re faced with a moving target.’

Al-Shamie is understood to have been granted British citizenship in 2006 when he was a teenager, aged around 16. 

Officers also arrested two men aged in their 30s and a woman in her 60s on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack.

The attack saw a car driven at members of the public, before it crashed and the attacker emerged and started stabbing those congregated outside.

The attack took place on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Neighbours of the killer said he had lived there since around 2021, and one neighbour remembered a baby also living at the address but could not recall seeing a woman living there.

One woman said: ‘We used to see him out in the garden working out, doing weights, press-ups.

‘He used to change his clothes. One day he would be wearing the full gown, to the floor, and the next jeans and pyjama bottoms.’

A neighbour of a house raided in Langley Crescent, Prestwich, told the Daily Telegraph she recognised its occupant from photographs of the synagogue attacker.

She said: ‘He lived there 10 years, with no wife or kids that I could see. He never seemed to speak to anyone around here.

‘I recognised him from the pictures of the attacker. I recognised his little car, the Kia, because he’d always park it badly outside ours.

‘I’d see him walking around in his pyjamas and slip-on sandals, carrying a shopping bag.

‘He was quite bulked up and used to keep his exercise weights in his garage. I’d see them there.’

Al-Shamie is understood to have worked as a tutor teaching English and computer programming, while reports suggest his father is a surgeon.

Police have also arrested two men aged in their 30s and a woman in her 60s on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack. They remain in custody.