‘Quiet man who became a hero’: Mourners honour synagogue victim Adrian Daulby
Hundreds gather at Agecroft Cemetery as mourners hail Yom Kippur synagogue victim a “quiet hero"
One of the two men killed in the attack on a Manchester synagogue was a “quiet man” who became a “hero”, mourners at his funeral heard.
Adrian Daulby, 53, leapt from his seat to block the doors of the Jewish holy place as knife-wielding Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, tried to get in to attack worshippers last Thursday morning.
Mr Daulby was killed along with Melvin Cravitz, 66, as the attack unfolded on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, with many worshippers inside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester.
His funeral followed that of Mr Cravitz, held on Sunday in Pendlebury, Salford, where around 300 mourners braved the rain to pay their respects.
Family, friends and members of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, led by Rabbi Daniel Walker, filled the cemetery forecourt, listening to the service over loudspeakers.
Rabbi Walker described Mr Cravitz as a man who “loved his community and loved his family”, while synagogue vice-president Rob Kanter called him “a loving, charismatic, humorous man who always meant well.”
He added: “At this time, we can only come together through goodness and hope. I know Melvin – that’s what he lived by and what he would have wanted carried on.”
In a tribute released on Friday, Mr Cravitz’s family said he would “do anything to help anyone… he was so kind, caring and always wanted to chat and get to know people.”
At Monday’s service for Mr Daulby, family members, congregants from Heaton Park Synagogue, including Rabbi Walker, and members of the wider Jewish community gathered at Agecroft Jewish Cemetery in Salford to pay their respects.
Mr Walker, who was at the synagogue when Al-Shamie launched his attack, gave the eulogy for Mr Daulby.
He said Mr Daulby was sitting in the synagogue in his usual seat, where his late father and grandfather had sat, “at that terrible moment when evil struck.”
“A true righteous man,” Mr Walker said. “If you don’t mind, I just want to tell you what my friend Adrian did. Adrian sits on the back row of the shul. When evil struck, he sought to secure the building. All of you who know and love Adrian know he was a quiet man. In that moment of need, that quiet man became a tremendously strong hero.
“I watched him leap from his seat, run to the door. He braced the doors and he held the doors against our attacker. Adrian didn’t run away from danger. Adrian ran to help. Adrian was righteous in his passing. Adrian was righteous in his life. He was a kind soul, a gentle soul.
“The most important thing is that we live Adrian’s legacy. He was saving the lives of his community. There is none holier, there is none greater, there is none higher. A great, great martyr. May his memory always be a blessing.”
One of Mr Daulby’s nieces then fought back tears to tell mourners: “Adrian will be dearly missed. He never deserved what happened to him. He died a true hero. We just want you to know how loved you were.”
A second niece said: “Our tradition teaches us, to save a single life is to save the world. Adrian did just that.”
Rabbi Walker said he had visited the synagogue yesterday and it was “frozen in time”, Mr Daulby’s prayer book still open on the page at the time Al-Shamie struck.
Earlier, dozens of mourners stood in autumn sunshine as the hearse arrived for the start of the 35-minute service, which included traditional Hebrew prayers.
Mr Daulby is believed to have been inadvertently shot dead by armed police as they scrambled 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.
Described as a beloved brother, loving uncle and cherished cousin in a tribute from his family after his death, they said: “His final act was one of profound courage and he will forever be remembered for his heroic act on Thursday 2 October 2025.”
Neighbours described Mr Daulby as someone who loved animals, nature and the children who lived nearby, giving local Muslim youngsters presents at Eid.
He had survived cancer, lived alone and had visited the synagogue more after the death of his father a few years ago, they said.
Three men remain in hospital with serious injuries, including a security guard with car-impact injuries and a Community Security Trust (CST) worker with stab wounds.
Al-Shamie, 35, who was on bail for an alleged rape, was shot dead by police. He was not known to counter-terror police but did have a criminal history.
Police say he may have been influenced by an extreme Islamist mindset. Counter Terrorism Policing North West is leading the investigation into the attack.
Four people arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts remain in custody after police were granted a further five days to question them on Saturday.
They are two men, aged 30 and 32, and a woman, 61, all arrested in Prestwich, and a 46-year-old woman arrested in Farnworth.
An 18-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man who were arrested in Farnworth were released with no further action on Saturday.
The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the attack raises deep questions about community relations in the UK.
The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region (JRC) said the “horrendous attack” was the culmination of “two years of constant Jew hatred targeting our community.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those members of our community who have been injured,” the JRC said. “We want to thank GMP, CST and the other emergency services for their swift response.”
In a joint statement, the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) said they were “devastated at the loss of two members of our Jewish community.”
“At a time of rising antisemitism in the UK, this attack was sadly something we feared was coming,” they said. “We call on all those in positions of power and influence to take the required action to combat hatred against Jewish people.”
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) added: “This act of terror is an assault not only on the Jewish community but on the basic values of freedom of religion and human dignity. Hate and terror must never be allowed to triumph.”
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