Yoni Finlay was shot after he helped to barricade a door to the Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue during an attack last year - nearly a year on the man said "things don't feel safer"19:04, 31 Aug 2026Updated 19:05, 31 Aug 2026A man who survived after being shot during the Manchester synagogue attack said his son has faced death threats since the horror.‌Yoni Finlay was hit by a police bullet at the Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsall on October 2, 2025, as he helped to barricade the doors while Jihad Al-Shamie targeted the place of worship. The survivor said "things don't feel safer", nearly a year on from the attack.‌Ahead of a memorial service for the victims and survivors on Monday evening, Mr Finlay said the past year had not been easy but that he had been supported by friends and family.‌Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were killed when Al-Shamie, 35, drove into the gates of the Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day for Jews. Al-Shamie then started attacking with a knife and was also wearing a fake suicide belt before police shot him dead.Mr Finlay, when asked how the Jewish community is feeling almost a year on, told BBC Radio 4: "I don't think things feel safer, I think we certainly live behind ever increasing gates, more security than we've ever had."‌The survivor said that while "more" is being done to protect the Jewish community, "any event that we attend within the community, the address is never displayed on the poster".He added that his own son has faced horror threats, saying: "Jewish people are having to hide their identity, even my own son, who's in college at the moment, has faced death threats."‌Rabbi Daniel Walker, from the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, told the BBC that "we're actually almost in a harder position than we were even immediately after the attack". He added: "I think the sense of vulnerability has grown. It hasn't diminished."Mr Cravitz, 66, died from multiple knife wounds inflicted by Al-Shamie, while Mr Daulby, 53, was struck by a single gunshot wound to the chest fired by an armed police officer.Mr Daulby and fellow worshippers held the main door of the synagogue shut. A pre-inquest review hearing earlier this year heard that Mr Finlay was seriously injured by the same bullet that passed through the door and took Mr Daulby's life.‌Chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Stephen Watson, apologised in July after it emerged police officers seized mobile devices containing evidence of Al-Shamies extremist mindset prior to the attack. The material however was not examined until after the incident happened.The disclosure came after Al-Shamie's friend and accomplice, Mohammad Bashir, 31, was jailed for life at Manchester Crown Court, on July 23. Sir Stephen confirmed the force had been aware of Al-Shamie before the attack in connection with two linked criminal allegations, neither of which related to terrorism.He said: "These allegations resulted in his being arrested on the 13th February 2025 on suspicion of breaching a non-molestation order; and on the 21st September 2025 on suspicion of rape. At the time of his committing the attack at the Heaton Park Synagogue, Al-Shamie was on police bail. In conducting an internal review, it became apparent that GMP had seized Al-Shamie's mobile devices, at the point of each arrest."Article continues belowA review later found the devices contained significant evidence of Al-Shamie’s extremist views. Sir Stephen added: "The significance of the data contents of these devices was substantial in respect of evidencing an extremist mindset." The police chief added: "I am disappointed at the prospect of adding to the distress of all of those affected by the terrible events last October. For this, I am deeply sorry."