Overview of the Attack
A terrorist wielding a knife targeted a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, and during the assault, he made a chilling phone call to emergency services, declaring that he had “killed two Jews in the name of the Islamic State.” The attack unfolded when the assailant rammed his vehicle into a group of worshippers before launching a stabbing offensive as he attempted to breach the synagogue’s entrance.
Details on the Perpetrator
The attacker, a 35-year-old Syrian-born man named Jihad Al-Shamie, is reported to have been deeply radicalized. Neighbors recalled that he had adopted a more extreme appearance during the COVID period, even wearing traditional robes and sharing his interpretations of the Quran with local children. At the time of the incident, he was a British citizen who had been involved in legal controversies, including being out on bail for an alleged rape.
Al-Shamie was also known to have been married twice. He is the father of three young children from his first marriage, from which his wife separated approximately six months ago. Additionally, he was married to another woman—a white British healthcare professional who embraced Islam a few years prior.
Incident Developments and Aftermath
The violent episode occurred outside a local synagogue, where during the chaos, the assailant’s actions led to the tragic deaths of two individuals. One man, aged 66, lost his life after being stabbed, while a 53-year-old security guard was fatally wounded by a stray police round fired in an attempt to thwart the attack. Another worshipper sustained serious injuries from the same incident and is presently receiving treatment in hospital.
During the attack, the perpetrator reportedly shouted a statement linking his heinous act to broader ongoing conflicts in the region, alluding to the loss of Muslim lives. British authorities have classified the incident as a terrorist attack, although current investigations have not established a direct connection between Al-Shamie and any formal terror organization. Instead, officials describe him as a “lone wolf” influenced by extremist ideologies amid the volatile backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Police have subsequently detained several individuals connected to him under terrorism-related statutes. While some associates have been released, the investigation continues as authorities seek to uncover any further links to his planning and execution of the attack.
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