Terrorist on his way to synagogue attack: Knifeman is captured on CCTV footage just seconds before he drove his car into worshippers

Chilling new footage shows the extremist behind the Manchester synagogue terror attack just seconds before he carried out his atrocity. 

Just yards from the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Jihad Al-Shamie’s battered hatchback can be seen driving to where worshippers are gathering at around 9.30am.

Moments earlier a man in a light brown coat and wearing a black backpack – believed to be Al-Shamie – can been seen walking furtively towards the synagogue and then away from it. 

Al-Shamie had been confronted by security and left, returning shortly afterwards after fetching his car, a black Kia Picanto with a distinctive missing rear wheel trim. 

Seconds after it is visible being driven past in new footage obtained by the Daily Mail, the Syrian-born 35-year-old extremist attempted to smash his way inside the building as Rabbi David Walker and courageous congregants barricaded the doors.

Within seven minutes of being called, armed police – visible pulling up in the clip – shot Al-Shamie, with hero worshipper Adrian Daulby, 53, tragically being fatally hit by a bullet as he tried to keep him out.

A second member of the congregation, 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, suffered fatal injuries after being attacked in the road by the knifeman.

A man wearing a black backpack believed to be Jihad Al-Shamie can been seen walking furtively towards Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall less than 30 minutes before launching his murderous attack last Thursday

A man wearing a black backpack believed to be Jihad Al-Shamie can been seen walking furtively towards Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall less than 30 minutes before launching his murderous attack last Thursday

Jihad Al-Shamie's black Kia hatchback drives along Middleton Road in Crumpsall at 9.30am last Thursday morning, seconds before ploughing into Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue before launching an attack which left two worshippers dead (time stamp is incorrect)

Jihad Al-Shamie’s black Kia hatchback drives along Middleton Road in Crumpsall at 9.30am last Thursday morning, seconds before ploughing into Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue before launching an attack which left two worshippers dead (time stamp is incorrect)

A passer-by flees as panic sets in once Al-Shamie launches his murderous attack on Yom Kippur

A passer-by flees as panic sets in once Al-Shamie launches his murderous attack on Yom Kippur

Armed police and fire crews were on the scene of the synagogue attack in Manchester, with attacker Jihad Al-Shamie shot dead just seven minutes after the first 999 call

Armed police and fire crews were on the scene of the synagogue attack in Manchester, with attacker Jihad Al-Shamie shot dead just seven minutes after the first 999 call 

The mayhem, staged on the Yom Kippur – the holiest day on the Jewish calendar – saw the 35-year-old knifeman ram his car into a crowd of people before then trying to ‘stab everyone in sight’. 

Seven minutes after the bloodshed began, Syrian-born Al-Shamie was shot dead by police, who at the time feared he was wearing an explosive suicide device – which later proved to be fake. 

It comes after earlier footage which appears to capture the weight-lifting terrorist in the minutes before his attack. 

That clip, filmed on doorbell camera, seems to show bearded Al-Shamie walking down a road following an earlier confrontation outside the synagogue, in which he was told to leave.

The suspected Islamist extremist, who was on bail for rape at the time of the attack, was recorded at 9.22am walking in a yellow coat. 

Then, at 9.26am, Al-Shamie is seen driving towards the synagogue in a black Kia Picanto, which matched the one he used to ram into worshippers. 

Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was reportedly caught on camera moments before heading off to carry out his terror attack on Thursday morning

Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was reportedly caught on camera moments before heading off to carry out his terror attack on Thursday morning

The attacker was caught on camera armed with a knife trying to get into the synagogue

The attacker was caught on camera armed with a knife trying to get into the synagogue

Emergency services were alerted to the chaos at 9.31am, with firearms officers arriving at the scene and killing the 35-year-old within seven minutes. 

Two Jewish men Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, died in the attack, the latter believed to have been hit by police gunfire as firearms officers shot Al-Shamie.

Three people remain in hospital, while police have detained four people on suspicion of terror offences. 

Mr Daulby was among those bravely attempting to keep the doors of the worship centre closed during Al-Shamie’s knife rampage. 

His family last week paid tribute to him, hailing Mr Daulby as a ‘down to earth man whose final act was to save others’.

‘Adrian Daulby was a hero and tragically lost his life in the act of courage to save others, he will forever be remembered for his heroic act on Thursday 2 October 2025,’ they said in a statement on Friday. 

‘The family is shocked by the tragic, sudden death of such a lovely down to earth man.

‘His final act was one of profound courage and he will forever be remembered for his heroic act on Thursday 2 October 2025.’

Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead minutes after he targeted Heaton Park Synagogue

Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead minutes after he targeted Heaton Park Synagogue

Greater Manchester Police confirmed two innocent victims sheltering in the synagogue were hit by rounds discharged by armed officers.

The force said: ‘Adrian was one of the brave worshippers attending the synagogue at the time of incident and prevented the attacker from gaining access to the premises.

‘It is currently believed that Adrian’s injury may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by our officers to bring a vicious attack to an end.’

Brian Bell, the synagogue’s chief executive, previously claimed Mr Daulby was one of those shot, having put his life on the line to courageously protect the terrified worshippers trapped inside.

‘He was an unassuming member of the synagogue who actually rose to the terrible danger, because he ran to close all the doors, back and front,’ Mr Bell said.

He added it was while the ‘gentle’ 53-year-old was holding one of the doors closed that he was shot during the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

Another man, Yoni Finlay was also reportedly shot while trying to barricade the door, according to his family.

The 35-year-old was hit in the chest and is now recovering after having undergone major surgery on Thursday evening, his 15-year-old son, Uriel, said.

Speaking to ITV News, the teenager – who was at home asleep during the terror attack – said: ‘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.

Yoni Finlay (right) saved lives by helping to barricade the door of Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue during Thursday's terrorist attack, his son Uriel (now 15) said

Yoni Finlay (right) saved lives by helping to barricade the door of Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue during Thursday’s terrorist attack, his son Uriel (now 15) said

‘He was shot accidentally by a bullet that went through the door.’

The schoolboy added: ‘My dad is a complete hero, he saved so many lives, and I’ll never, ever forget that.’

Rabbi Daniel Walker was among those who attempted to barricaded the door to the synagogue and was later hailed a ‘hero’ for his efforts.  

Four people have been detained on suspicion of terror offences. 

On Sunday, counter terror police were granted more time to hold them in custody, as investigators continue their work to understand ‘the full picture’ of what happened, a spokesman for Counter Terrorism Policing North West said.

Two other people, a man and a woman, were released without charge after they were arrested on the day of the attack.

On Thursday evening, pro-Palestine activists were branded ‘disgusting’ for staging anti-Israel rallies in Manchester and London hours after the terror attack. 

Activists also ignored pleas to postpone a major demonstration in London on Saturday, in which some almost 500 people were arrested. 

Organisers of the protest, Defend Our Juries, said 1,000 people attended the event to ‘oppose genocide and the Palestine Action ban’.

Palestine Action was proscribed as a terror group by the government earlier this year. 

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