Terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie was on police bail for an alleged rape when he carried out the Manchester synagogue attack, sources have said.
The 35-year-old, who was a British citizen of Syrian descent, drove a black Kia Picanto into a crowd gathered outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, before stabbing people.
According to police and security service records, Al-Shamie did not appear in initial searches and was not believed to be under investigation. He reportedly worked as a tutor teaching English and computer programming.
He was killed by police around seven minutes after they were first alerted. Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, tragically lost their lives during the incident, while three others are currently in hospital with serious injuries, police said.
Neighbours of Al-Shamie said he had lived there in Langley Crescent since around 2021, while one recalled a baby also living at the address. The family of Al-Shamie have issued a statement saying it was a "heinous act" and expressed their "shock and sorrow".
Al-Shamie is understood to have entered the UK as a young child and was granted British citizenship in 2006 when he was around the age of 16.
Neighbours of the synagogue killer shared their memories of him living nearby. One woman said: “We used to see him out in the garden working out, doing weights, press ups. He used to change his clothes. One day he would be wearing the full gown, to the floor and the next jeans and pyjama bottoms.”
Another person who lived near the house raided in Langley Crescent, Prestwich, told the Daily Telegraph she recognised its occupant from photographs of the synagogue attacker. She said: “He lived there 10 years, with no wife or kids that I could see. He never seemed to speak to anyone around here.
“I recognised him from the pictures of the attacker. I recognised his little car, the Kia, because he’d always park it badly outside ours. 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. I’d see them there.”
Rabbi Daniel Walker, who has been the spiritual leader of the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue since 2008, has revealed how the knifeman shouted, "I'm going to get you", as he tried to break inside the place of worship.
Witnesses said Rabbi Walker remained "incredibly calm" even as Jihad Al-Shamie, who was thought to be wielding an active explosive device at the time, rammed worshippers before trying to stab "everyone he could see".