A courageous security guard who sustained severe injuries during the Manchester synagogue terror attack has received over £40,000 in donations to support his recovery.
Andrew Franks, a volunteer, was among the three individuals seriously injured by Jihad al-Shamie during the attack at Heaton Park Synagogue on Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar. Mr. Franks’ quick actions enabled Rabbi Daniel Walker and other worshippers to secure the doors before the attacker could cause further harm inside the synagogue.
The 35-year-old assailant, who was later shot dead by armed police, had driven into the crowd with his Kia Picanto and then proceeded to stab those nearby. Tragically, two individuals, Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, lost their lives, while Mr. Franks and Yoni Finlay were left with serious injuries.
A fundraising campaign has been launched for Mr. Franks, highlighting the severe head, neck, and facial injuries he sustained along with multiple broken bones. His friend, Jonathan Patoff, disclosed that Mr. Franks had recently faced another tragedy, losing his wife to cancer earlier this year, leaving him to care for their 16-year-old daughter alone.
The fundraiser has already raised nearly £44,000 to assist Mr. Franks and his daughter during this challenging time. Meanwhile, mourners gathered to honor Mr. Daulby at his funeral, where accounts of his own courageous efforts emerged.
Investigations revealed that al-Shamie had a criminal record but was not previously flagged by counter-terror authorities. Four individuals, including two men aged 30 and 32, a 61-year-old woman, and a 46-year-old woman, have been detained on suspicion of planning terrorist activities following the attack.