Man shot during synagogue attack released from hospital

Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester Picture: Peter Byrne/PA

A man injured when he was shot during the attack on a synagogue in Manchester in the UK has been discharged from hospital.

Yoni Finlay is believed to have been hit by a police bullet at Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsall on October 2 and underwent seven hours of surgery.

He is reported to have been helping to barricade the doors as Jihad Al-Shamie targeted the place of worship on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, died during the attack.

Mr Daulby is believed to have been inadvertently shot dead by armed police as they scrambled to the scene to stop Al-Shamie, who had driven his car at worshippers outside, attacked others with a knife and tried to storm the synagogue, wearing a fake suicide belt.

Members of the community gather at Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, a week on from the terror attack (Peter Byrne/PA)

A statement from Greater Manchester Police said: “The man who was injured with a gunshot wound has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.”

The force said two other men injured in the attack, a security guard who was hurt when the attacker rammed his car outside the synagogue, and a volunteer who was stabbed, remain in hospital in stable conditions.

Mr Finlay’s ex-wife, Naomi Finlay, told BBC News following the attack: “He’s in pain, obviously, but I think for him and anyone who’s been injured or involved in any of that terrible day, I think it’s the emotional toll which is going to take a lot longer to recover from.”

The British Independent Office for Police Conduct is carrying out an investigation into the attack as standard procedure, and is treating the officers who responded as witnesses, British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said.

She said that police acted in a situation where “they believed a terrorist was likely to detonate an explosive device”, adding: “There is no ambiguity around who is responsible for the deaths and injuries that took place on that day.”