British-Syrian Terrorist Kills Two At Manchester Synagogue; Three Suspects Arrested

Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, carried out a terrorist attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, killing two Jewish men and seriously injuring several others before being shot dead by police. He was not known to counter-terrorism agencies and had no Prevent referrals, but was on police bail for an alleged rape and had other non-terrorism criminal convictions. The attack involved ramming a car into pedestrians and stabbing victims, and a suspicious device worn by al-Shamie was found to be non-viable. Greater Manchester Police arrested three individuals—a woman in her 60s and two men in their 30s—on suspicion of preparing and instigating acts of terrorism in connection with the attack. Al-Shamie had lived in Prestwich for about ten years, where neighbors described him as reclusive. Authorities continue to investigate his motivations and any links to prior threats or criminal activity.