Police say Jihad al-Shamie made call to emergency services during attack that resulted in the deaths of two worshippers
Police say Jihad al-Shamie made call to emergency services during attack that resulted in the deaths of two worshippers
The Manchester synagogue terrorist rang 999 during his deadly attack pledging allegiance to the terror group Islamic State, police have said.
Jihad al-Shamie, 35, made the call claiming responsibility for the attack 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 Shamie getting inside.
Shamie, a Syrian-born UK citizen, had not previously been on the radar of counter-terror officers but police now believe he was influenced by extremist Islamist ideology.
Rob Potts, the head of counter-terrorism policing in the north-west, said on Wednesday that minutes after the start of the attack Shamie called 999 to claim responsibility and pledged allegiance to IS.
Potts said: “The attack continued but thanks to the bravery of security staff, worshippers and the fast action of police, the attacker was prevented from gaining access to the synagogue.
