Firefighters were mobilised in response to the terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester, which took place on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur on 2 October.
Crews from Manchester Central and Agecroft fire stations were en route to an automatic fire alarm when they came across what they believed to be a road traffic collision with one casualty on the floor. They quickly found themselves responding to a terrorist attack. An attacker drove a car into members of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, and stabbed Melvin Cravitz, 66, to death before being shot by police. The attacker appeared to be wearing an explosive device, which was later found to be unviable. Adrian Daulby, 53, also died in the attack as a result of police gunfire as firearms officers shot the attacker.
CRUCIAL ROLE
Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, sent the union’s “deepest condolences to the families and friends of those murdered in this appalling attack. Our thoughts are with them, those injured, and with the wider Jewish community.” Firefighters played a crucial role in delivering
trauma care to victims of the attack, and more were mobilised alongside the North West Ambulance Service. In Greater Manchester and London, the fire service has negotiated marauding terrorist attack (MTA) cover with the FBU, with firefighters given special training and equipment for incidents such as this. Andy Fox-Hewitt, FBU executive council member for the North West, said:
“In total, 11 fire appliances and approximately 60 firefighters were mobilised to the scene of this horrific attack. I want to pay tribute to the bravery of our members who responded and saved lives.” Steve Wright added: “Without a doubt, firefighters saved lives on 2 October. This was only possible due to a collective agreement on Marauding Terrorist Attacks (MTA).
CALL FOR AGREEMENT
“Currently, only London and Manchester have signed up for this type of agreement. Had this type of heinous attack happened anywhere else in the UK, firefighters would not have been able to respond in the same way. “The FBU is proud of the role our members played, and we are keen to agree MTA arrangements at a UK-wide level.”
