UK police: Manchester synagogue attacker pledged allegiance to ISIS; 4 suspects held, 2 released
Police identified the attacker as 35‑year‑old Jihad Al‑Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent who entered the Manchester synagogue wearing what proved to be a fake explosive vest, made a 999 call pledging allegiance to Islamic State, and was shot dead by officers at the scene; two men — Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66 — were killed and three others were hospitalized in serious condition. Authorities say Al‑Shamie had not been referred to Prevent and was not known to Counter Terrorism Policing and was on bail over an alleged rape; police believe at least one of the deceased may have been struck by police gunfire, and of six people arrested on suspicion of terrorism four were held for further questioning while two (a man and a woman) were released without further action.
📌 Key Facts
- The attacker was identified as 35‑year‑old Jihad Al‑Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent from Manchester; he was shot dead by police at the scene.
- Police named the two people killed as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66; Greater Manchester Police said one deceased appears to have a gunshot wound, the suspect is believed not to have been in possession of a firearm, and the only shots fired were by its Authorised Firearms Officers (raising the possibility a victim was struck by police gunfire).
- Three other people were seriously injured in the attack and remain hospitalized.
- The attacker wore an apparent explosives belt that was later assessed as a non‑viable hoax device.
- Police said the attacker made a 999 call pledging allegiance to the Islamic State and claiming responsibility for the attack.
- Authorities said Al‑Shamie had not been referred to the Prevent programme, was not known to Counter Terrorism Policing, and was on bail for an alleged rape at the time of the attack.
- Six people (three men and three women, aged roughly 18 to their 60s) were arrested on suspicion of commissioning, preparing or instigating acts of terrorism; a court allowed police five more days to hold four of them, while two (a man and a woman) were released without further action.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"A pessimistic WSJ commentary reacts to the Manchester synagogue murders, arguing that perfunctory official gestures won't allay Jewish fears and that such attacks deepen the case for emigration or much stronger protective responses."
📰 Sources (5)
- Police say the attacker, Jihad Al‑Shamie, made a 999 call pledging allegiance to the Islamic State and claiming responsibility.
- Authorities say Al‑Shamie had never been referred to Prevent and was not known to Counter Terrorism Policing; he was on bail for an alleged rape at the time.
- The apparent explosive vest was a hoax device and assessed as non‑viable.
- Three people injured in the attack remain hospitalized.
- Of six people arrested on terrorism suspicions, a court allowed police five more days to hold four; two (a man and a woman) were released without further action.
- Six people (three men and three women, aged between 18 and their 60s) were arrested in the greater Manchester area on suspicion of 'commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.'
- Attacker identified as 35‑year‑old Jihad Al‑Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian origin who lived in Manchester; he was shot dead by police at the scene.
- The attacker wore what appeared to be an explosives belt that was later determined to be fake; police say he was out on bail over an alleged rape at the time of the attack.
- Greater Manchester Police publicly stated one of the deceased appears to have a gunshot wound.
- GMP said the suspect, Jihad Al‑Shamie, is currently believed not to have been in possession of a firearm.
- GMP said the only shots fired were from its Authorised Firearms Officers, indicating at least one victim may have been struck by police gunfire.
- Police identified the two men killed as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66.
- Police identified the attacker as 35‑year‑old Jihad Al‑Shamie (a British citizen of Syrian descent); he was shot dead by police at the scene.
- Three other people were hospitalized in serious condition and three people (two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s) were arrested on suspicion of preparing or committing acts of terrorism.