Gunshot Wound Found After Manchester Synagogue Attack — But Police Say Suspect Had No Gun
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson has revealed chilling new details about the synagogue terror attack. Full post-mortem exams on victims are due today, with one victim provisionally found to have suffered a gunshot wound.
“The Home Office Pathologist has provisionally found one victim suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot,” Sir Stephen confirmed. But crucially, the prime suspect, Jihad Al-Shamie, is believed NOT to have carried a firearm.
“The only shots fired were from GMP’s Authorised Firearms Officers,” he added. Officers acted swiftly to stop Al-Shamie from storming the synagogue and inflicting further carnage.
Collateral Damage or Tragic Injury?
Sir Stephen warned the gunshot wound may have been a tragic unintended consequence of the desperate police response: “This injury may sadly be a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgent police action to end this vicious attack.”
Doctors say one of the three injured victims in hospital has a gunshot wound but thankfully it’s not life-threatening. Both victims were reportedly close behind the synagogue door where brave worshippers desperately blocked the attacker’s path.
Suspect’s Family Condemn Attack, Demand Privacy
The suspect’s family have issued a strong condemnation of the attack and called for privacy. In a statement reported by Reuters, spokesperson Faraj Al-Shamie said:
“The news from Manchester regarding the terrorist attack targeting a Jewish synagogue has been a profound shock to us.
The Al-Shamie family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act, which targeted peaceful, innocent civilians.
We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened.
Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we pray for their strength and comfort.
We ask the media to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time and refrain from using this tragic event in any context that does not reflect the truth.
We pray for the swift recovery of the injured victims.”
The nation remains united in shock after yet another violent attack targeting the Jewish community in Manchester.
