The Guardian Angel of Heaton Park: How a Chef's Courage Foiled a Synagogue Massacre

When jihadist Jihad Al-Shamie launched his murderous attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Yom Kippur last October, it was a humble chef from Bury, not the state, who stood between the terrorist and mass murder. Andrew Franks, stabbed three times and bleeding profusely, managed to trip the attacker, raise the alarm, and save hundreds of lives. His actions, now recognised with a Pride of Britain Award, are a testament to the quiet, unshakeable courage that has always defined the British character.

A hero's instinct: 'Something wasn't quite right'

Mr Franks, a 53-year-old volunteer security guard, had been called in at the last minute to cover the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. His instincts, honed by a lifetime of service to his community, told him something was amiss. He spotted Al-Shamie loitering across the road, taking photographs of the synagogue. 'I had a strange feeling something was going to happen,' Mr Franks told the Daily Mirror. 'Something wasn't quite right.'

The attack: A race against death

At around 9.30am, Al-Shamie rammed his car into the synagogue's gates. Mr Franks ran to confront him, unaware that the terrorist had already stabbed to death 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz outside. 'He stabbed me three times, yelling that he was going to kill me,' Mr Franks recounted. 'I shouted,