Officials have named the man who was allegedly behind the rampage at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, UK, this week as Jihad Al-Shamie.
According to an updated police statement cited by the The Sun, formal identification is yet to roll out, authorities firmly believe that the person responsible for the killing of two Jewish people outside a UK synagogue is a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent. Update: The men who died in the attack have since since been named as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66.
What we know about Manchester synagogue attack suspect Jihad Al-Shamie so far
Al-Shamie reportedly rammed his vehicle into people outside the place of worship, while also stabbing a security guard, just after 9:30 am BST on Thursday. The suspected attacker went on a violent spree while the congregation was celebrating the holiest day of the year in Jewish religious calendar, Yom Kippur.
“The second he got out of the car, he started stabbing anyone near him. He went for the security guard and tried to break into the synagogue,” an eyewitness told The Sun.
He was ultimately shot dead by officers at the scene. Police is treating the attack as a terror incident.
According to GMP chief Sir Stephen Watson, the suspect was initially believed to be wearing “a vest which had the appearance of an explosive device,” but the suggestion was ultimately quashed as not viable.
The Manchester attack suspect is believed to have come into the United Kingdom as a young child. He was granted British citizenship in 2006 as a minor, according to BBC.
International reports further insisted that anti-terrorism or police officials did not previously know about Al-Shamie.
Jihad Al-Shamie was stopped from entering the synagogue
Another eyewitness told BBC the suspect was seen wielding a knife, and “he was just stabbing the window trying to get in the [synagogue].” However, seconds later, police arrived at the scene. After giving him a few warning, they ultimately resorted to opening fire at him because he didn’t listen.
In addition to Al-Shamie’s name coming up in connection to the attack, Greater Manchester Police disclosed that three other suspects had been arrested on the suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. These individuals are two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s.
This is a developing story.