The terrorist who killed two Jewish men outside a synagogue on Thursday has been identified as Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent. Al-Shamie was shot dead by police seven minutes after officers were alerted to the attack during the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
Three people have been arrested on suspicion of planning a terror attack in connection with the killings. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that two men in their thirties and a woman in her sixties were detained on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.
Attack details and timeline
Al-Shamie rammed into people with a car before stabbing a man outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester. Three men remain in hospital with serious injuries, with one stabbed and another hit by the car.
A third man "presented himself at hospital with an injury that may have been sustained as officers stopped the attacker", police said. A dramatic picture shows Al-Shamie standing outside the synagogue with unidentified objects strapped to his waist, initially thought to be an explosive device which police later said was not viable.
Attacker background and investigation
Al-Shamie is understood to have entered the UK as a young child and been granted British citizenship in 2006 when he was around 16 years old. He appears to have lived in Prestwich, around two miles from the scene, with his name linked to a property in the town.
Initial searches of police and security service records suggest Al-Shamie's name had not previously appeared in their systems. He is not thought to have been under investigation and had not been referred to the Government's Prevent anti-radicalisation scheme.
A neighbour recognised his face from photographs of the synagogue attacker. She told The Telegraph: "He lived there 10 years, with no wife or kids that I could see. He never seemed to speak to anyone around here. I'd see him walking around in his pyjamas and slip-on sandals, carrying a shopping bag. He was quite bulked up and used to keep his exercise weights in his garage."
Family background and community response
Reports suggest Al-Shamie's father is a doctor. A Facebook profile of a Faraj Al-Shamie features numerous political posts about Syria and includes a picture of a man, reported to be Jihad Al-Shamie, holding a baby in 2024 with the words "great welcome grandson".
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the terror attack was the "tragic result" of an "unrelenting wave of Jew hatred on our streets, campuses, on social media and elsewhere". He added: "This is the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come."
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson praised the "immediate bravery" of security staff and worshippers who shut the attacker out. Sir Stephen said: "There were a large number of worshippers attending the synagogue at the time of this attack, but thanks to the immediate bravery of security staff and the worshippers inside, as well as the fast response of the police, the attacker was prevented from gaining access."
Dramatic eyewitness account
Former Conservative minister Sir Grant Shapps revealed his father-in-law, Michael Goldstone, came "face-to-face" with Al-Shamie from inside the synagogue. Sir Grant told The Times: "He was face-to-face with the terrorist, holding the inside of the door, as he tried to break down the front doors. The chap had turned up 10 minutes earlier before the car came back and smashed into the security. They locked the doors when the car crashed into the gate, which prevented more killings."
Government response and security measures
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Labour) visited an unnamed synagogue on Thursday evening after vowing to do "everything in my power" to protect Jewish communities. Speaking from Downing Street after a Cobra emergency committee meeting, Sir Keir condemned the "terrorist attack that attacked Jews because they are Jews", which he said had been committed by "a vile individual".
Addressing the Jewish community, he said: "I promise you that I will do everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve, starting with a more visible police presence, protecting your community." Sir Keir announced that "additional police assets" would be deployed at synagogues across the country.
Related protests and arrests
Separately, 40 people were arrested in Whitehall on Thursday evening during a protest organised by the Global Movement for Gaza UK, Scotland Yard said. Posters shared on X called for pro-Palestine activists to meet at various locations around the UK between 5.30pm and 6pm on Thursday in support of Greta Thunberg's flotilla, which was intercepted by the Israeli navy earlier this week.
One protester, Fiona Smith, 42, told The Telegraph: "I don't give a f*** about the Jewish community right now. I thought about it and I'm sorry about what happened, but the whole story and why we're here is because of what happened yesterday [with the flotilla]." Pro-Palestine activists were also pictured marching through the streets of Manchester city centre on Thursday evening.
Sources used: "PA Media", "The Telegraph", "The Times" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
