Manchester Terrorist's Father Praises Hamas, Iranian Attacks on Social Media

Father of Manchester Synagogue Attacker Praised Hamas' October 7 Attacks

Faraj Al-Shamie, the father of Jihad Al-Shamie, the man responsible for the attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, reportedly praised Hamas's attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. His social media posts have sparked outrage, especially given the family's subsequent condemnation of Jihad's actions.

Controversial Social Media Posts

In the wake of the October 7th attacks, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of around 250, Faraj Al-Shamie allegedly posted a series of supportive messages on Facebook. These posts, written in Arabic, praised the Hamas attackers as "men of God on Earth". He also expressed support for Iranian missile attacks on Israeli cities.

One post reportedly stated that the scenes of Hamas fighters storming Israel with paragliders and motorcycles "prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Israel will not remain." He also called on the militants to "take good care of your weapons and aim them accurately for your brothers".

Later posts, after the initial attack, seemed to show a more nuanced view, with Al-Shamie urging Hamas to "release the elderly and children" taken hostage. However, he also referred to their actions as a "miracle on all levels" and expressed hope that the attacks would lead to the "liberation of Al-Aqsa."

Family Condemnation vs. Personal Views

Following Jihad Al-Shamie's attack on the synagogue, the Al-Shamie family released a statement condemning his actions. "The Al-Shamie family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act, which targeted peaceful, innocent civilians," the statement read. "We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened."

The stark contrast between the family's public statement and Faraj Al-Shamie's alleged social media posts has raised questions about the family's true sentiments and the potential motivations behind Jihad Al-Shamie's violent act. The attack occurred on Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day, and resulted in the deaths of Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. Jihad Al-Shamie was shot dead by police at the scene.

Background and Investigation

Faraj Al-Shamie is reportedly a trauma surgeon who came to the UK from Syria in the 1990s. Jihad Al-Shamie was reportedly granted British citizenship in 2006. Prior to the synagogue attack, he was out on bail for an alleged rape. Authorities are investigating the motivations behind the synagogue attack, with a focus on whether it was motivated by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Some reports indicate that Faraj Al-Shamie deleted certain social media posts, including one stating: ‘Bad news for Israel in the next few days, unfortunately no one can prevent what is written.’ The revelation of his alleged support for Hamas has further complicated the narrative surrounding the tragic events in Manchester.