British-Syrian man, 35, is named as Islamist terrorist who killed two innocent men at Manchester synagogue: Trio remain in custody
An Islamic terrorist who killed two people in a car and knife attack at a synagogue in Manchester has been named by police.
Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, a British citizen of Syrian descent, was shot dead by armed officers minutes after he targeted Heaton Park Synagogue shortly after 9.30am today.
Three other Jewish worshippers were seriously injured in the attack, which unfolded on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Two men aged in their 30s and a woman in her 60s have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism, police said.
It comes after the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the suspect, who was wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest, was an Islamic terrorist.
Al-Shamie drove a car into a crowd outside the synagogue before he started stabbing people at 9.31am. He was shot dead within seven minutes of the first 999 call being made.
In an update this evening, Greater Manchester Police said: ‘We are now able to confirm that, although formal identification is yet to take place, we believe the person responsible for today’s attacks is 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie.
‘He is a British citizen of Syrian descent.
Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was caught on camera armed with a knife trying to get into the synagogue moments before he was shot by armed police
The terrorist was shot dead by police following the attack outside a synagogue in Manchester (pictured is a member of the Army’s bomb disposal team checking the attacker)
Following the incident, armed officers later reportedly arrested two men in a street just feet away from the deadly knife attack in Manchester (pictured is a man being detained by police)
‘A suspicious device worn by the attacker during the incident has been assessed and was deemed not to be viable.
‘Based on what we currently know, our records do not show any previous Prevent referrals relating to this individual.’
The force confirmed that the two people who were killed in the attack were both men – although they are yet to be identified.
Three other men are currently in hospital with serious injuries. One sustained a stab wound and a second was struck by the car involved in the attack.
Greater Manchester Police added: ‘We are working to formally identify those who have tragically been killed and provide support to their loved ones, in addition to the injured and the wider community.
‘We are working to understand the motivation behind the attack as the investigation continues.’
After a day of bloodshed, Sir Keir Starmer warned Britain faces a rising tide of antisemitism.
The PM gave a statement from 10 Downing Street where he hailed emergency services and security saying they had ‘no doubt whatsoever prevented an even greater tragedy’.
As the Jewish community went into mourning, tonight pro Palestine protestors were seen marching through Manchester while being surrounded by police
Benjamin Netanyahu called the deadly rampage a ‘barbaric attack’ and said Israel was grieving with the Jewish community in Britain.
‘Our hearts are with the families of the murdered, and we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded,’ the Israeli Prime Minister said.
‘As I warned at the UN: weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it.’
Rabbi Daniel Walker blocked the entrance to the ‘packed’ Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, in Manchester, after it had come under the deadly attack.
He was hailed a ‘hero’ for calmly shutting the doors of the synagogue after the terrorist ‘started stabbing everyone he could get to’.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Chava Lewin said: ‘Rabbi Walker was incredibly calm, he shut the doors to the synagogue to stop him getting inside.
‘He barricaded everyone inside. He is a hero, this could have been even worse.’
Shortly after police shot the the man, Rabbi Walker was seen outside, his white kittel – the traditional robes worn by Jewish religious leaders – seemingly covered in blood.
Worshipper Rob Kanter, 45, was in the barricaded synagogue and told how Rabbi Walker was providing as much pastoral support as he could.
A bomb disposal expert from the British Army’s 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment is seen investigating the device worn by the terrorist
Rabbi Daniel Walker (pictured right) leapt into action after the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue came under attack
Police are seen standing guard outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue
He described the terrifying moment the Heaton Park Shul was placed into lockdown – but said most of those inside were able to remain calm.
‘We knew there was a commotion because we had already made sure all of the doors and windows were shut,’ he said.
‘I would say the mood amongst our fellow congregants was very calm. Everyone deals with these things in their own way, but generally, everyone was very calm and dignified.’
He said the worshippers evacuated across Middleton Road to a nearby relief centre.
‘The rabbi was providing as much pastoral support in the circumstances as he could,’ he said.
‘We’ve obviously got to police quarters, and we continued to do part of the service, because at the end of the day, of course, it’s awkward and it’s difficult and people have got a multitude of emotions going on, but we carried on.
‘We did not the whole service, but we did what we could in the circumstances.
‘Your mind’s on many things, but our Rabbi’s role was to try and say ‘yes, this is a terrible tragedy, but at the end of the day, we want to try where possible to remember today is the Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement’ and we did as much as we could as a group.’
