Manchester Synagogue Attacker Identified as Jihad Al-Shamie, Was on Police Bail for Rape

Manchester Synagogue Attack: What We Know About Jihad Al-Shamie

On Thursday, October 2, 2025, a terror attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to several others. The attacker has been identified as Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent. Police are investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism possibly influenced by extreme Islamist ideology.

The Attack and Its Aftermath

The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) reported that Al-Shamie initially acted suspiciously outside the synagogue before returning in a vehicle and launching the attack. He drove a car into pedestrians and then engaged in a stabbing spree. Armed officers responded, fatally shooting Al-Shamie at the scene. Authorities later confirmed that a device strapped to Al-Shamie's waist, initially thought to be an explosive, was not viable.

• The attack occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
• Two men, Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were killed in the attack.
• Three others remain hospitalized with serious injuries, one of whom was also hit by a police bullet.

Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic scene as worshippers attempted to barricade the synagogue doors while the attack unfolded.

About Jihad Al-Shamie

Jihad Al-Shamie was a British citizen of Syrian descent who entered the UK as a young child and was granted citizenship in 2006. Prior to the attack, Al-Shamie was on bail for an alleged rape that occurred earlier in the year. He also had a non-terrorism-related criminal history. Despite prior minor offenses, he was not known to counter-terrorism police.

• He reportedly worked as a tutor teaching English and computer programming.
• He appears to have lived in Prestwich, near the synagogue.

Family and Background

Al-Shamie’s father, Faraj Al-Shamie, is a trauma surgeon who has worked for several NGOs in conflict zones across the world. Following the attack, the Al-Shamie family released a statement distancing themselves from his actions and expressing shock and sorrow. However, subsequent reports have revealed that Faraj Al-Shamie allegedly posted on Facebook in support of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, praising Hamas.

Investigations and Reactions

The GMP is working to understand the motivation behind the attack. Three other people have been arrested on suspicion of planning a terror attack in connection with the killings. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and concern. Increased security measures have been implemented at synagogues across the UK.

“Our hearts are shattered. What transpired yesterday was an awful blow to us, something which actually we were fearing might happen because of the buildup to this action.” - Ephraim Mirvis, Britain’s chief rabbi

The attack has also intensified discussions about anti-Semitism and security within the Jewish community in the UK.