Wife of synagogue attacker says he was 'aggressive' but did not seem extremist

The Manchester synagogue terrorist was “intimidating, aggressive and controlling” but had showed no sign of extremism before carrying out his lethal antisemitic attack, one of his wives has said.

- Josh Halliday North of England editor

The woman, who married Jihad al-Shamie in an Islamic ceremony in early 2022, said the 35-year-old had been “glued to his phone” watching Arabic news channels but had not appeared to be on the path to terror.

Police revealed yesterday that al-Shamie called 999 and pledged allegiance to the extremist group Islamic State during his deadly assault last week. Al-Shamie made the call after driving his car at worshippers outside Heaton Park synagogue in north Manchester on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur last week.

He then attacked others with a knife and tried to storm the synagogue wearing a fake suicide belt.

Melvin Cravitz, a 66-year-old father of three, was killed along with Adrian Daulby, 53, who is believed to have been inadvertently shot by police as he ran to block the synagogue doors to stop al-Shamie getting inside.

The police watchdog said yesterday it was not investigating any firearms officers for Daulby’s death, or the gunshot wound suffered by another worshipper who remains in hospital. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the three armed officers were being treated as witnesses in its investigation, which is examining whether police may have caused or contributed to Daulby’s death or the injuries suffered by the other man.