Exclusive: Jihad al-Shamie had been under investigation over alleged sexual attack earlier this year, sources say
Manchester synagogue attack – latest updates
The Manchester synagogue terrorist was on police bail for an alleged rape when he carried out the attack, the Guardian can reveal.
Jihad al-Shamie, 35, was being investigated over the alleged sexual attack which is understood to have taken place earlier this year.
The Syrian-born attacker is also believed to have other criminal convictions, although he was not on the radar of counter-terrorism officers.
Shamie was shot dead by armed police after killing a Jewish man and seriously injuring several others when he attacked the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, in north Manchester, on Thursday.
Two men, Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, died during the assault. One was struck fatally by a bullet fired at Shamie by armed officers.
Counter-terrorism police and security services are working to piece together the background of the attacker, who is believed to have chosen the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, to target worshippers.
