Public inquiry to be held into the deaths of two Jewish men killed in the Manchester synagogue terror attack
The Government has announced a public inquiry into the deaths of Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby in the October 2025 attack at a Manchester synagogue. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the inquiry, requested by the coroner, will examine the deaths and hear evidence, including sensitive national security material that might not be heard in a coroner’s court.
Jihad Al-Shamie killed Cravitz, 66, with a knife and Daulby, 53, died from a police bullet during the attack; three other men were seriously injured. Greater Manchester Police said Al-Shamie had been arrested twice in 2025 over allegations unrelated to terrorism, and that officers seized his mobile devices but did not examine them before the attack. Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson called this a missed opportunity and apologised.
- A public inquiry will examine two deaths in the Manchester synagogue attack.
- Police did not examine the attacker’s seized phones before the attack.
- The inquiry can hear sensitive national security evidence.
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A terror attack took place at a Manchester synagogue in October 2025, leaving two men dead and three others seriously injured. Melvin Cravitz, aged 66, was killed by knife wounds, whilst Adrian Daulby, aged 53, died from a police bullet fired during the emergency response. The attacker was identified as Jihad Al-Shamie.
Before the attack, Al-Shamie had been arrested twice in 2025 on matters unrelated to terrorism. Police seized mobile devices from him during these arrests but did not examine them before the attack took place. The police force has acknowledged this as a missed opportunity.
These circumstances have raised questions about the police response and what they knew about Al-Shamie beforehand. A formal public inquiry has been announced to examine these matters in detail, including sensitive national security information that would not typically be explored in a standard inquest.