'Hero' shot dead by accident was holding synagogue doors to block attacker, rabbi says

The man accidentally shot dead during the Manchester synagogue attack was holding the doors shut to make sure the knifeman could not enter, says rabbi Daniel Walker.

Police revealed earlier that one of the two victims died from a police bullet, fired as officers shot dead Jihad al Shamie. Attack latest: Al Shamie on bail for alleged rape, Sky understands Rabbi Walker told Sky News: "One of the men was murdered entering into the synagogue from the outside on his way to pray, he was coming for morning services, Yom Kippur, and his life was taken.

"The other man was inside the foyer, helping hold the doors to stop the terrorist coming in and when shots were fired he was fatally wounded. "That was Adrian, who was holding the doors to make sure everyone inside stayed safe." Adrian Daulby's family have described the 53-year-old a "hero" and a "down-to-earth man" who would "forever be remembered for his heroic act".

One of his neighbours, Abdul Rahimi, told Sky News he was a "very, very good man" who often bought books and toys for children on their street. Melvin Cravitz, 66, was the other man murdered in the attack in Crumpsall yesterday.

His relatives told Sky News he was a "gentle giant" who "would never harm a fly". Greater Manchester's police chief, Sir Stephen Watson, said one of the three people in hospital also suffered a gunshot injury which isn't life-threatening.

The chief constable said it's believed they was close to Mr Daulby behind the synagogue door. He said Mr Daulby's wound appeared to be a "tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers to bring this vicious attack to an end".

Rabbi Walker told Sky News the "pain is very raw - we are still in the crisis stage - but we are strong and we are going to recover". "I still believe in hope, I still believe that we will come together and that we are better than this - and that we'll be better than this," he said.

He praised the solidarity shown by the public and politicians as "heartening" and said "it's good to know we're not alone". Al Shamie, 35, was shot dead outside Heaton Park synagogue on Thursday morning amid fears he was wearing a suicide vest.

Minutes earlier, he ploughed his car into people at the gates of the building before launching a stabbing attack. The killer came to the UK from Syria as a small child and hadn't been on the radar of police or MI5.

Al Shamie is believed to have lived in a council house in Langley Crescent, Prestwich, around two miles from the scene. "We used to see him out in the garden working out, doing weights, press-ups," said one of his neighbours.

"He used to change his clothes. One day he would be wearing the full gown, to the floor and the next jeans and pyjama bottoms." Geoff Haliwell, 72, told Sky News he believed the family, including his mother, father and brothers, had lived there around 20 years.

"There's no way I could've thought they were in any way involved in anything like this," he said, describing the family as "nice people". Another neighbour, Kate McLeish, said she thought al Shamie was "an odd guy" and said he used to park his battered black Kia "quite badly on the road"..