Three additional individuals, comprising one man and two women, have been apprehended by authorities probing the Manchester synagogue assault, heightening the tally of individuals detained on suspicion of plotting acts of terrorism to six, as confirmed by Greater Manchester Police.
The trio, aged between 18 and in their mid-40s, were taken into custody. Laurence Taylor, the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, mentioned that the perpetrator, 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, might have been swayed by radical Islamist beliefs.
Law enforcement intends to request warrants for extended detention under counter-terrorism regulations for all six detained persons linked to the incident outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. In an evening statement, Mr. Taylor extended his condolences to those affected.
“I can now provide further insights into our investigation, but it’s crucial to note that we are still in the preliminary stages of our inquiries, and the situation continues to evolve,” he remarked.
Eyewitnesses reported observing a man behaving suspiciously near the synagogue before being challenged by security and leaving the vicinity. According to the available details, this incident was not reported to Greater Manchester Police as the individual had departed the area.
“Approximately 15 minutes later, the same person returned in a vehicle and initiated the dreadful attack. Despite a significant number of worshippers present, the swift response of security personnel, worshippers, and law enforcement prevented the assailant from gaining entry,” Mr. Taylor elaborated.
Two individuals, Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, lost their lives. Mr. Cravitz, the synagogue’s security guard during the assault, along with others, heroically thwarted the attacker’s entry.
“We believe the deceased suspect was 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie. An examination of a suspicious device affixed to his body revealed it to be a hoax,” Mr. Taylor disclosed.
“Initial assessments indicate that this individual was not on the radar of Counter Terrorism Policing, but he did have a prior non-terrorism-related criminal record, including a recent arrest for rape, for which he was released on bail.”
“We suspect that Al-Shamie may have been influenced by extreme Islamist doctrines. Unraveling the complete circumstances surrounding the assault will likely require considerable time. We have now detained three additional individuals, one man and two women, aged between 18 and mid-40s, bringing the total number of individuals in custody for suspected involvement in terrorism-related acts to six.”
The authorities emphasized that the investigation was still in its nascent phase and urged the public to avoid speculating or disseminating unverified information that could impede police inquiries unnecessarily and cause further distress to those affected by the incident.
