Manchester synagogue attacker was out on bail in rape case, influenced by 'extreme Islamist ideology'

The man behind the Manchester synagogue attack that killed two was arrested on suspicion of rape and was out on bail at the time of the incident, the police have said.

Police suspect that Al-Shamie may have been influenced by “extreme Islamist ideology” and reported that three additional individuals, aged between 18 and their mid-40s, have been arrested on suspicion of committing, preparing, or instigating acts of terrorism.

Shamie, 35, was a British citizen of Syrian descent who was living in Prestwich, Manchester. Authorities said that his name did not appear in the initial searches of police and security service counter-terrorism records.

Who was Al-Shamie?

Talking to the BBC, locals in Prestwich said that Shamie was a weightlifting enthusiast who mostly remained isolated and rarely spoke to his neighbours. ITV News reported the attacker was “understood to have worked as a tutor teaching English and computer programming”.

In a statement to the press, his family said, “We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened. Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we pray for their strength and comfort.”

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The investigation into the attack will focus on the “circumstances surrounding the fatal police shooting of Jihad Al-Shamie”, as well as “whether police may have caused or contributed to the death of the man later found to have suffered the fatal gunshot wound”.

‘Terrorist attack’

The attack was declared a “terrorist incident” by authorities on Thursday.

Three other people, two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s, have been arrested and held in custody on suspicion of terrorism-linked offences.

Interior minister Shabana Mahmood said it was “too early” to say if a cell was behind the attack.

With inputs from agencies