Father said to be surgeon who worked in war-torn countries

FARAJ Al-Shamie, whom the Manchester Evening News understands to be the father of 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, has said that the 'news from Manchester regarding the terrorist attack targeting a Jewish synagogue has been a profound shock to us'.

- By HELENA VESTY

Faraj AL-Shamie, understood to be the father of Manchester synagogue terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie

He released statement released on social media, continuing that the 'Al-Shamie family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act'.

He added 'we fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened'.

The statement on Faraj Al-Shamie's Facebook reads:

"Al-Shamie Family Statment (sic)