Terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, was under police bail for an alleged rape when he carried out an attack at a synagogue in Manchester. The 35-year-old drove a black Kia Picanto into a crowd outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, before stabbing individuals. Police and security service records indicate that Al-Shamie was not initially identified as a suspect and was not under active investigation. Al-Shamie, who worked as an English and computer programming tutor, was confronted by police approximately seven minutes after the initial alert and was subsequently killed.
During the incident, two individuals, Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, tragically lost their lives, while three others sustained serious injuries and are currently hospitalized. Al-Shamie had been residing in Langley Crescent since around 2021, with neighbors recalling the presence of a baby at the residence. His family released a statement condemning his actions as a “heinous act” and expressed shock and sorrow over the events. Al-Shamie obtained British citizenship in 2006 after arriving in the UK as a young child.
Residents near Al-Shamie’s residence shared their recollections of him, noting his varied attire and exercise habits. Witnesses recounted the knifeman’s attempt to break into the synagogue, shouting threats as he targeted worshippers. Despite the chaos, Rabbi Daniel Walker, the spiritual leader of the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue, remained composed during the attack, where Al-Shamie appeared to be armed with an explosive device.