Two men killed in an assault on a religious center in Manchester have been revealed by police as 53-year-old Adrian Daulby, and Melvin Cravitz, 66.
Three additional individuals are still hospitalized with serious injuries after the assailant used an automobile into people before stabbing others on Thursday morning.
The violent incident, which law enforcement has confirmed was a terrorist incident, took place during the Day of Atonement, the most important observance in the Jewish faith.
The attacker, who was killed by police at the site, was a thirty-five-year-old British citizen of Syrian heritage who was not on record to counter terrorism police, according to security officials.
Public Reaction
"Right now our hearts are shattered," the nation's top rabbinical authority stated.
During a conversation on a national radio program, he said: "Yesterday's events was an awful blow to us, something which we had been concerned about might happen because of the preceding circumstances."
The attack was not only "an extremely difficult period" for Jews in Britain "but for everyone in our country," he emphasized.
Official Reaction
"Our responsibility is to guarantee our Jewish community, our residents can live their lives with safety and security," a cabinet minister stated.
"We cannot allow Jewish citizens in our country to feel compelled to live a smaller Jewish life, that they cannot conduct their affairs and practice their faith and attend their religious centers in liberty," she added.
The assailant was not identified to terrorism investigators, she told media outlets, and it was "premature" to say if there was a terrorist cell behind the attack.
Investigation Update
The police investigation was "progressing rapidly" and there was an additional law enforcement visibility at synagogues across the UK.
"The government does provide security funding," the representative said, adding: "We must evaluate what additional measures we can implement to address increasing anti-Jewish sentiment."
Greater Manchester police announced they were providing help to loved ones of the two men killed.
"Our heartfelt condolences are with the families of the victims at this extremely hard time," law enforcement leadership stated.
He confirmed that designated family representatives were in communication with families and would continue to support them through the coronial process.
"Although procedures exist which must be followed, we promise to be considerate of community customs and needs and to ensuring that the victims and their relatives' requests are respected," he added, mentioning that the deceased individuals were from the local area.
Medical examinations are scheduled on the next day, according to official sources.
