A friend of the Manchester synagogue attacker, Jihad al-Shamie, has claimed the killer searched for ISIS videos, as neighbours said they had concerns he had a fanatical interest in Islam. Al-Shamie’s pal, named only as Qas, told Sky he started to use the encrypted messaging app Telegram and searched “for ISIS videos”.
Qas told the broadcaster: “Once, he even tried to show me one at the shisha lounge. I told him to go away and asked how he even got access to that content, and he said it was through Telegram.” The pair then lost touch until Qas found out about the attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue last Thursday.
Adrian Daulby, 53, leapt from his seat to block the doors of the Jewish holy place as knife-wielding Al-Shamie, 35, tried to get in to attack worshippers. Mr Daulby was killed along with Melvin Cravitz, 66, as the attack unfolded on Yom Kippur, the most holy day in the Jewish calendar.
Police have insisted al-Shamie didn’t appear to be known to counter-terror officials prior to the attack in Crumpsall, north Manchester. But The Guardian newspaper on Monday reported a neighbour as saying they shared concerns about the family with Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Their doubts were raised during the Covid pandemic when al-Shamie and another family member started to wear Islamic dress and tried to preach the Koran to children in the street.
GMP said on Friday that al-Shamie may have been influenced by “extreme Islamist ideology”. In a statement issued by the force on Monday, GMP said: “We are aware of reports circulating which suggest Jihad al-Shamie had previously been reported to police due to concerns over possible extremist behaviour.
“This is inaccurate. We stand by the previous statement that Jihad al-Shamie was not known to Counter Terrorism Policing.”
GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said “no stone is being left unturned” in the investigation into the attack. His comment came after mourners at the funeral of Mr Daulby heard he was a “quiet man” who became a “hero”.
Mr Daulby is believed to have been inadvertently shot dead by armed police as they scrambled to the scene to stop al-Shamie, who ploughed into worshippers outside using his car, attacked others with a knife and tried to storm the synagogue, wearing a fake suicide belt.
Three men remain in hospital with serious injuries, including a security guard with car-impact injuries and a Community Security Trust (CST) worker with stab wounds.
One of those injured, Yoni Finlay, went through seven hours of surgery on Thursday and is now out of intensive care, his ex-wife Naomi Finlay told BBC News.
She said: “He’s in pain, obviously, but I think for him and anyone who’s been injured or involved in any of that terrible day, I think it’s the emotional toll which is going to take a lot longer to recover from.”
Al-Shamie, who was on bail for an alleged rape, was shot dead by police. Counter Terrorism Policing North West is leading the investigation into the attack.
Four people arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts remain in custody after police were granted a further five days to question them on Saturday.
They are two men, aged 30 and 32, and a woman, 61, all arrested in Prestwich, and a 46-year-old woman arrested in Farnworth.
An 18-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man, who were arrested in Farnworth, were released with no further action on Saturday.