One Manchester synagogue attack victim was shot by police, says police chief

The police have said that one of the two victims in the UK’s Manchester synagogue attack was mistakenly shot by the police.

A man on Thursday rammed a car on the grounds of Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in England’s Manchester and went on a stabbing spree. Two Jewish men were killed, and four others were injured in the attack that ended seven minutes later when the police shot dead the attacker.

While it was initially said that the attacker, identified as Jihad al-Shamie, stabbed two people to death, the Manchester police chief has now said that one of the two deceased was shot mistakenly by the police as they fired at Jihad.

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Ahead of full post-mortem examinations, the pathological assessment by the British Home Office has provisionally determined that one of the victims suffered a gunshot injury, said Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson of the Greater Manchester Police in a statement.

Watson further said that it is currently believed that Jihad was not in possession of a firearm and the only shots fired were from the police personnel as they worked to prevent him from entering the synagogue and attack more people. He said that, subject to further 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”.

#UPDATE | Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson has provided an update following yesterday’s tragic incident on Middleton Road in Crumpsall. pic.twitter.com/VWTpOE4KG3

— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) October 3, 2025

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Watson added that one of the three injured also suffered a gunshot wound from the police firing. He said the wound was not life threatening. He said that these two persons were close together behind the synagogue door “as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry”.

Watchdog to probe police shooting

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which serves as the police watchdog in England and Wales, has said it will look into the matter.

As per the standard practice in case of any fatal police shooting, the IOPC is carrying out an independent investigation to establish the facts of what happened the findings will be shared with the coroner in due course, the watchdog said in a statement carried by the Guardian.

“IOPC investigators attended the police post-incident procedures and were at the scene last night gathering evidence. We will be present at the post-mortems today to provide independent oversight,” the statement further read.

It is not clear at the moment if the policeperson whose bullet hit the victim would face an investigation. Prior to the confirmation that police bullets had hit victims, the Guardian reported that IOPC was treating policepersons who responded to the attack as witnesses, not suspects. But now the policeperson whose bullet hit victims may face an investigation.

We must defeat antisemitism, says Starmer

As Jewish leaders flagged rising antisemitism that drove the attack, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that antisemitism must be defeated.

Speaking at the Manchester police headquarters, Starmer said that defeating antisemitism is the responsibility of everyone.

Starmer further said, “It is the responsibility of government and we will rise to that challenge and do all that we can to absolutely ensure that our Jewish community is safe and secure, and that we show them the strength of the support and solidarity that we have for them. That will be massively helped by what you have already done, what you’re continuing to do.”