A ‘hero’ father who barricaded the synagogue doors during yesterday’s terror attack ‘stopped loads of deaths’ before police accidentally shot him, according to his son.
Yoni Finlay was one of the worshippers at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester, when it was laid seige by Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, on Thursday.
His brave actions stopped the knifeman from getting inside the building, his son Uriel, 15, told ITV Granada Reports.
Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, was shot dead by armed officers minutes after his murderous stabbing spree on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish year.
Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, died in the attack while another four worshippers were injured – including Mr Finlay.
Uriel was still asleep when the attack unfolded but realised as soon as he heard that his father would have been at a service as he liked to attend earlier in the day.
He said: ‘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.’
Unable to spot his father among the victims, he spoke to the temple’s Rabbi who informed him of Yoni’s bravery.
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
The religious leadder also told Uriel that his dad had been accidentally shot by armed police while barricading the synagogue door with other worshippers.
In the process of shooting the terrorist, a police marksman’s bullet passed through the door and hit Mr Finlay in the chest.
Mr Finlay, a passionate Manchester United fan who lives near the synagogue, was taken to hospital following the attack, where he underwent surgery.
He remains ‘very weak, very drowsy’ and is unable to converse normally, his son said.
Yoni remained on the barricade throughout the entire ordeal, preventing the death toll from being far higher.
‘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,’ Uriel said, reflecting on his father’s actions.
‘He’s a hero, he stopped loads of deaths from happening, and I hope he knows that.’
This morning Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson admitted that one of the men who died and another who was injured suffered gunshot wounds from armed police during the incident.
He confirmed that the suspect, Jihad Al-Shamie, was not in posession of a firearm and that the only firearms discharged were Greater Manchester Police’s ‘Authorised Firearms Officers’.
Chief Constable Watson said: ‘Following the terrorist incident yesterday at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, Middleton Road, Crumpsall; further and urgent enquiries continue.
‘Overnight, we have taken advice from the Home Office Pathologist ahead of full post-mortem examinations scheduled for later today.
‘The Home Office Pathologist has advised that he has provisionally determined, that one of the deceased victims would appear to have suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury.
“It is currently believed that the suspect, Jihad Al-Shamie, was not in possession of a firearm and the only shots fired were from GMP’s Authorised Firearms Officers as they worked to prevent the offender from entering the synagogue and causing further harm to our Jewish community.
‘It follows therefore, that subject to further forensic examination, this injury may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers to bring this vicious attack to an end.
‘We have also been advised by medical professionals that one of the three victims currently receiving treatment in hospital, has also suffered a gunshot wound, which is mercifully not life threatening.
‘It is believed that both victims were close together behind the synagogue door, as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry.
”Our thoughts and prayers remain with all of the families, and the wider community, impacted by this incident across Greater Manchester and beyond.
‘Specialist officers are providing support and care for all of those directly affected, including our brave first responders.’
Adrian Daulby, 53, was shot by a police bullet at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall yesterday morning.
Melvin Cravitz, 66, (left) and Adrian Daulby, 53 (right) both died during Thursday’s terror attack
He was among those bravely attempting to keep the doors of the worship centre closed during ruthless Jihad Al-Shamie’s deadly rampage on Thursday.
Brian Bell, the synagogue’s chief executive, 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.
A written tribute from his family said: ‘Adrian Daulby was a hero and tragically lost his life in the act of courage to save others, he was a beloved brother, loving uncle to his four nieces and one nephew and a cherished cousin.
‘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.’
