Burnham praises ‘exemplary’ police response to Heaton Park synagogue attack
Manchester mayor was interviewed for ITV1's Peston show
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has strongly defended the actions of police officers during the Heaton Park synagogue attack, describing their response as “exemplary” in the face of a highly challenging situation.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently investigating how Greater Manchester Police (GMP) handled the incident, which is being treated as a terrorist attack.
The attack claimed the lives of two Jewish men: Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53. Daulby is believed to have been fatally struck by police gunfire as officers shot the suspect, Jihad Al-Shamie.
Another man, Yoni Finlay, 39, was wounded when he tried to prevent Al-Shamie, 35, from entering the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation building in Crumpsall. Finlay was also struck by a live round and remains hospitalised.
Speaking on ITV1’s Peston show, aired on Monday night, Mayor Burnham said:“I am very clear about that, having viewed the footage of the officers, because what they did was to act in the moment with huge efficiency in terms of getting to the scene within minutes. But they also were exemplary in how they handled what was a really difficult situation.
“There was no sense of carelessness here. The appropriate warnings were given. And of course, we wait to see the full inquiry. But there is no sense here that there was anything other than a very controlled response to a very difficult situation. And it’s my view that the officers prevented a much more serious loss of life. And it’s why I stand by them. I support them. I applaud them.”
He added: “I’m not going to equivocate in any way, having viewed that footage. And when other people see it, if in due course it comes out, I know that they will agree with what I am saying.
“Of course, the officers can’t be sure how a bullet might pass through a door. But they operated, in my view, with the utmost professionalism. And we salute them for it.”
Addressing a report in The Guardian that neighbours of the attacker had previously raised concerns with police about possible radicalisation, Burnham described the article as “inaccurate.”
“I’ve obviously seen the report and I’ve asked the Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police to investigate it, but I am told already that the report is inaccurate,” he said.
“There clearly was some information passed, so we’ll have to determine exactly what that was, but I do not believe the report to be accurate.”
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