Yoni Was Accidentally Shot By Police As He Barricaded Doors Of Manchester Synagogue

LONDON (VINnews) — A heroic father who helped barricade doors to stop the Manchester terrorist from entering the synagogue on Yom Kippur was one of those accidentally shot by a police, his son has said.

Yoni Finlay was inside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester, when Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, drove into a group of people outside before attempting to enter the building.

Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were murdered in the attack, while three others – including Yoni – were injured.

The terrorist was shot dead by police seven minutes after officers were alerted to the attack, which took place on Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day.

Speaking exclusively to ITV Granada Reports Yoni’s 15-year-old son, Uriel, described his dad as a “hero” who “stopped loads of deaths from happening” as he bravely tried to hold the doors shut stopping Al-Shamie from entering.

He said the attack happened while he was still asleep in bed, but he knew his dad was inside the synagogue as he normally went earlier.

“I ran out the house, I didn’t think about anything else and it was complete chaos, there were loads of ambulances, armed police going inside the shul every five minutes,” he said. “When all the victims of the shul came out I realised my dad wasn’t there.

“I spoke to Rabbi Walker, he told me that he and my dad barricaded the doors with a couple of other people and, in the process of the armed police shooting the terrorist, one of the bullets hit my dad in the chest. He was shot accidentally by a bullet that went through the door.”

“My dad is a complete hero, he saved so many lives, and I’ll never, ever forget that,” he added.

Speaking about his dad’s bravery, Uriel added: “I spoke to a couple of people that had been in the shul and they told me that he just wasn’t going to let him in.He was blocking the door the entire time and making sure [Al-Shamie] couldn’t enter at all.He’s a hero, he stopped loads of deaths from happening, and I hope he knows that.”

Yoni, a huge Manchester United fan, underwent a lengthy surgery where his son says he is currently “very weak, very drowsy, and can’t really talk properly”.

In a statement on Friday, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson confirmed that two men, one of the victims who died in the attack and one of those in hospital, had suffered gunshot wounds at the scene.

He said the suspect was “not in possession of a firearm”, adding “the only shots fired were from GMP’s Authorised Firearms Officers”.

He said the worshipper’s injuries may have been sustained as a “tragic and unforeseen consequence” of the “urgently required action” taken by armed officers to stop the suspect from harming more people.

“It is believed that both victims were close together behind the synagogue door, as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry,” he added.

One of the victims injured was working for the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which provides security to the Jewish community. Its chief executive Mark Gardner said in a statement: “I said after October 7 that I did not believe in ‘reassurance’, because it sounds like a magic wand that nothing will happen.

“Instead, I gave you my ‘assurance’ that CST would do everything in our power to keep Jews safe so as to encourage strength and resilience.” He added: “In pursuit of that mission, one of our CST personnel was seriously injured in yesterday’s terror attack at Heaton Park Synagogue. We pray for his continuing recovery and salute the courage of all those who helped stop the terrorist from getting into the shul.We will keep doing all we can in the protection of our community and thank all of those who support us in doing so.”