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Both individuals fatally wounded in the violent incident at a synagogue in Manchester are now named as Adrian Daulby, aged 53 and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, according to police.

Local law enforcement clarified that official confirmation is still pending, but the families have been notified and family liaison officers are in close contact.

The victims were killed when an assailant drove a car to ram into the grounds of the Heaton Park synagogue, then began attacking worshippers during a violent spree that concluded only when police with firearms fired upon the attacker on two occasions.

Six minutes of terror: the sequence of events at the Manchester synagogue.

Three additional persons sustained major injuries in the assault, which took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Authorities identified the attacker as Jihad al-Shamie, 35, a UK national of Syrian descent. Greater Manchester Police also disclosed that three more individuals – two men in their 30s and a female in her sixties – had been arrested for alleged commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.

Postmortem examinations of the victims – both of whom are from the Crumpsall area – will be conducted on Friday afternoon.

Detective Ch Supt Lewis Hughes, who is overseeing the victim support, stated: “My deepest sympathies are with the families of Mr Daulby and Mr Cravitz at this extremely hard time.”

“Dedicated family support officers are assisting them. They will continue to update them on the investigation and support them throughout the coronial process.”

“Although certain protocols must be observed, we will respect cultural traditions and sensitivities and to ensuring that these men and their loved ones’ wishes are honored.”

The attack was universally condemned from across the political spectrum, with Keir Starmer describing the assailant a “vile individual” who “attacked Jews because they are Jews, and attacked Britain because of our values”. Opposing politicians Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage joined others expressing solidarity with the Jewish population.

The attack occurred just shortly prior to the two-year mark of the October 7th assaults by Hamas in Israel. Police stated that there would be heightened security at synagogues and Jewish community centers in the near future.

Starmer flew back to the UK from a meeting of EU officials in Denmark to lead a crisis Cobra session after the incident, before addressing the nation from Downing Street.

On Friday early, local authorities stated that extra officers would provide a “high visibility” deployment in North Manchester, Bury, and Salford within Jewish neighborhoods and around places of worship.

There will additionally be increased visits to area religious sites, police added.