UK had been tipped off about Middle East plots

MIDDLE East terror masterminds have been plotting to launch attacks on non-Muslim religious centres in the UK for several years.

- EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS HUGHES

We can reveal investigators have discovered plots to persuade UK-based extremists to launch knife and car attacks.

Counter-terror detectives are probing whether Syria-born Jihad al-Shamie was self-radicalised or was persuaded to launch his attack in Manchester.

Investigators in the Middle East have in recent years tipped off UK authorities that similar attacks were being plotted.