An inquest has heard that a victim of the Manchester synagogue attack died from a single police gunshot wound as he held the building's doors shut against a terrorist. Adrian Daulby, 53, was described as a 'quiet man' who became a 'tremendously strong hero' after he leaped from his seat to block the doors of Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue during the attack on 2 October, Yom Kippur.
Daulby was fatally struck by a bullet that penetrated the synagogue doors as armed officers fired at the attacker, Jihad al-Shamie. Ch Supt Lewis Hughes of Greater Manchester Police told the hearing that Daulby had been holding the main doors shut for approximately two minutes as the offender attempted to force entry. A single bullet struck him in the chest, and he was pronounced dead at the scene at 10.15am.
Fellow worshipper Melvin Cravitz, 66, died from multiple knife wounds inflicted by Shamie. The inquest heard that Shamie drove his Kia Picanto at security staff and gates before attacking Cravitz with a knife, inflicting fatal wounds to his upper torso, head, and neck. Cravitz was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary but died at 10.45am.
Judge Alexia Durran, the chief coroner of England and Wales, gave provisional findings that Cravitz died of stab wounds and Daulby died of a gunshot wound. The coroner extended condolences to the families and friends of both victims. Representatives from Greater Manchester Police, Counter Terrorism Policing North West, the Community Security Trust, and the government legal department attended the hearing.
The hearing was adjourned for a pre-inquest review on 18 February next year. An inquest into the death of Shamie, who was shot dead by police, is scheduled to open on Friday.
