Manchester Rabbi Daniel Walker, who blocked the terrorist from entering his synagogue on Yom Kippur, underwent security training through an Israeli government initiative.
Thanks to the rabbi’s actions, an even greater disaster was prevented in the attack, which claimed the lives of two Jewish community members and left four others wounded, three seriously.
Walker underwent training in a program for rabbis dealing with terror attacks, conducted by the Community Security Trust, the security organization of U.K. Jewish communities, according to Israel Hayom.
The training content is provided by Israel’s security establishment with funding from Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry. The program includes practical exercises and study days.
In an interview with Britain’s ITV channel, Walker described the dramatic moments when the terrorist crashed into the synagogue door repeatedly trying to enter, while waving a knife and shouting, “I’m going to get you, I’m coming in.”
The rabbi and other worshippers held the door with their bodies, while Adrian Dolby, one of those killed, “defended the synagogue with his life” and was accidentally shot by police forces.
Dolby, 53, and Melvin Kravitz, 66, were the two fatalities in the attack at Heaton Park synagogue in the Crumpsall neighborhood.
“When I arrived at the synagogue, there was some incident near the gate. Someone was behaving suspiciously and aggressively, and the security guards and volunteers were trying to deal with it,” Walker recounted.
“We thought it was a minor disturbance. I entered the synagogue, and prayers began. Half an hour later, I heard a huge explosion from outside and screams. People ran in asking to close the back doors. I ran to the front and then someone tried to enter while waving a knife.”
According to the rabbi, several men held the doors while the terrorist tried to break in. “He tried using the knife to penetrate through the door, threw planters, crashed into the door repeatedly with his body.”
Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, rammed his car into the synagogue on Yom Kippur before trying to stab other worshippers. The attacker, who was free on bail for an alleged rape, was shot and killed by law enforcement at the scene.
Originally published by Israel Hayom.
