Adrian Daulby, who died heroically defending a Manchester synagogue from attack, was remembered as a "quiet man" who became a "hero" at his funeral. The 53-year-old leaped from his seat to block doors against knife-wielding attacker Jihad Al-Shamie during last Thursday's assault on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.
Daulby was killed alongside Melvin Cravitz, 66, as the attack unfolded on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The assault targeted worshippers gathered at the synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester, during one of their most sacred observances.
Emotional funeral service
Family members, synagogue congregants and the wider Jewish community gathered at Agecroft Jewish Cemetery in Salford to pay their respects. Rabbi Daniel Walker, who witnessed the attack, delivered the eulogy for Daulby during the 35-minute service.
Rabbi Walker described how Daulby sat "in his usual seat, where his late father and grandfather had sat, at that terrible moment when evil struck". He told mourners: "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," Rabbi Walker continued. "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."
Family tributes
One of Daulby's nieces 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 added: "Our tradition teaches us, to save a single life is to save the world. Adrian did just that." Rabbi Walker revealed he had visited the synagogue and found it "frozen in time", with Daulby's prayer book still open on the page from when Al-Shamie struck.
Daulby is believed to have been inadvertently shot dead by armed police as they responded to stop the attacker. Al-Shamie had driven his car at worshippers outside, attacked others with a knife and attempted to storm the synagogue while wearing a fake suicide belt.
Ongoing investigation
Four people arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts remain in custody after police were granted five additional days to question them. They include two men aged 30 and 32, and a woman aged 61, all arrested in Prestwich, plus a 46-year-old woman arrested in Farnworth.
Three men remain hospitalised with serious injuries, including a security guard with car-impact injuries and a Community Security Trust worker with stab wounds. Al-Shamie, 35, who was on bail for alleged rape, was shot dead by police during the incident.
Counter Terrorism Policing North West is leading the investigation, with authorities suggesting Al-Shamie may have been influenced by an extreme Islamist mindset. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the attack raises deep questions about community relations in the UK.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
