COUNTER-TERRORISM cops are investigating if the Manchester synagogue attacker sent death threats to an MP for his stance on Israel.
Former Tory MP John Howell, 70, received a barrage of threatening emails in 2012 – one of which was from a “Jihad Alshamie”.
Former Tory MP John Howell, 70, was sent a letter reading: ‘It is people like you who deserve to die.’[/caption]
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer visit the site of the Manchester synagogue attack[/caption]
The letter read: “It is people like you who deserve to die.”
It came after Howell, who was the MP for Henley until last year, spoke about Israel‘s right to defend itself after it came under rocket fire.
According to The Times, the letter is being investigated as part of the police’s probe into yesterday’s tragic terror attack in Manchester.
Cops are trying to find out if the letter’s author is the same person who was shot dead outside the synagogue.
Police named the attacker as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent who came to the UK as a “very small child”.
Cops confirmed that the attack was declared a terrorist incident and an investigation into the horror is being led by Counter Terrorist Officers.
Three people – two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s – have been arrested after cops raided a nearby residential street.
The trio are being held on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.
Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed in the horror that unfolded outside Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester at around 9.30am on Thursday.
Melvin, who has now been pictured, leaves behind his wife Karen.
Friends described him as a “beloved figure” who always had a “joke and a smile”. They said he attended the synagogue every week.
They said he had no children of his own but was seen as a “grandfatherly” figure by his wife’s children from her previous marriage.
Members of the Armed Forces prepare a bomb disposal robot[/caption]
Prime Minister Keir Starmer flew back from Denmark early to chair Cobra[/caption]
Adrian’s family has posted on Facebook, asking for privacy as they grieve his loss.
“As Adrian’s family, we are heartbroken by his passing. We kindly ask for privacy at this time as we grieve and seek the answers we need.
“Thank you for your understanding and respect.”
Tributes have rolled in for the “kindest man” who lived alone and enjoyed spending time outdoors.
A neighbouring family said he was a “gentle soul” and a cancer survivor who loved tending to his garden.
Another neighbour told The Times Adrian had only recently started attending the synagogue again after his dad passed away a few years ago.
Three other men remain in hospital with serious injuries. One sustained a stab wound and a second was struck by the car involved in the attack.
Cops said: “The third man later presented himself at hospital with an injury that may have been sustained as officers stopped the attacker.”
The force confirmed the man believed to be the offender was wearing a vest which had the “appearance of an explosive device”.
He was shot dead by firearms officers at 9.38am. He did not manage to enter the building.
Shocking aftermath pictures revealed what is believed to be a bomb belt and a knife near the attacker.
However, cops have now revealed that the device the suspect was wearing was “not viable”.
Operation Plato – cops’ response to marauding terrorist attacks – was stood down, but it remains a major incident.
A device that was strapped to the suspected attacker[/caption]
At 9.34am, three minutes after police arrived, armed cops were deployed at the scene[/caption]
Prime Minister Keir Starmer – who flew from Denmark early to chair Cobra – announced that security is being stepped up at every synagogue across the country.
Starmer said yesterday: “The attack in Manchester this morning is absolutely shocking, and all of our thoughts are with those affected.
“I am on my way back to London. When I arrive, I will chair an emergency Cobra meeting.
“I’m already able to say that additional police assets are being deployed to synagogues across the country, and we will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe.”
He today visited the site of the horror attack with his wife Lady Victoria.
The first female Archbishop of Canterbury in the Church of England’s history spoke about the devastation in her first address today.
The Right Rev Dame Sarah Mullally said: “Mindful of the horrific violence of yesterday’s attack in a synagogue in Manchester, we are witnessing hatred that rises up through fractures in our communities.
“Hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to tear us apart.”
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year in Judaism.
Large numbers of Jewish people attend synagogues and fast on this day.
Speaking on GB News, Shabana Mahmood said: “In terms of the attacker, this individual was not known to the security services.
“He has obviously been shot dead at the scene, but the police investigations will now continue at pace.”
She thanked members of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall and the police, saying their actions helped save lives.
Speaking at a press conference earlier Chief Constable Stephen Watson branded the attack as a “horrific incident.”
He said: “My thoughts, and those of my officers and staff, are with the families of the loved ones who have been affected by today’s horrific incident, on what is the Jewish community’s holiest day: Yom Kippur.
“This has been officially declared as a terrorist incident, and the investigation is now being led by Counter Terrorist Police.
“We can confirm that two members of our Jewish community have sadly died as a result of this attack.
“Following a rapid response, armed officers from Greater Manchester Police intercepted the offender and he was fatally shot by officers, within seven minutes of the initial call”, he added.
A suspected knifeman who was shot dead by cops after unleashing a ‘terror’ rampage which left two dead[/caption]
MINUTE BY MINUTE How synagogue terror attacker's atrocity unfolded in just 7 minutes after rampage left 2 dead and 4 injured
By Emily Jane Davies
THE devastating terror attack at a Manchester synagogue yesterday unfolded in just seven minutes, with the rampage leaving two dead and four injured.
Early yesterday morning, on Yom Kippur, prayers began at Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
But the peace was shattered at 9.30am, when the sound of screeching tyres came down the road.
The holy day quickly became one of horror that saw two people – Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, – tragically killed.
Ten minutes before the attack, former Tory minister Grant Shapps‘ father-in-law came “face-to-face” with the terrorist.
The man had scouted the location and argued with security when they would not allow him into the grounds.
“He was claiming that it’s a free country and he should be able to walk in the grounds,” Shapps told the Times.
“Then he came back ten minutes later in the car.”
The carnage began at 9.30am when the black Kia hatchback crashed into the gates of the synagogue after “driving erratically” down the road.
Witnesses said that the “second” the driver leaped out of the vehicle, he began “stabbing anyone near him”.
“He went for the security guard and tried to break into the synagogue,” an eyewitness said.
The attacker – believed to be 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie – reportedly tried to “stab the window to get in” after those inside barricaded the doors.
An eyewitness said prayers had started when the horror unfolded but Rabbi Daniel Walker, who was leading the service, remained calm and led the congregation to safety with the help of others.
At 9.31am, police scrambled to Crumpsall, north of Manchester.
A member of the public called the police saying he had seen a car being driven towards a crowd and one man had been stabbed.
The man had tried to kick down the doors, and then tried to use his knife to get in.
When that failed, he resorted to the plant pots that were outside to try smash in the windows.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the man believed to be the offender was wearing a vest which had the “appearance of an explosive device” as the horror unfolded.
Shocking aftermath pictures revealed what is believed to be a bomb belt and a knife near the attacker.
However, cops have since revealed that the device the suspect was wearing was “not viable”.
At 9.34am, three minutes after police arrived, armed cops were deployed at the scene as more details of the horrifying rampage emerged.
GMP declared PLATO and a major incident at 9.37am – which means terrorism is suspected but not confirmed.
After warning the man several times to stand down to no avail, the armed officers opened fire.
The attacker was shot dead at 9.38am – but GMP said they could not confirm his death for sure.
This was because of safety concerns about the “bomb vest” he appeared to be wearing – but was later revealed to be unviable.
