Neighbours of the Manchester synagogue attacker told the Guardian they had reported concerns to police about him and a family member becoming “radicalised” and trying to preach the Qur’an to local children.
Police stated that Jihad al-Shamie, 35, did not seem to be known to counter-terrorism officials before he attacked a Heaton Park synagogue on Yom Kippur, killing two worshippers.
However, people familiar with the family said on Monday they had been worried about the intense interest in Islam shown by the killer and another relative in recent years.
One neighbour described how “everything changed” during the Covid pandemic when Shamie and the relative began wearing traditional Islamic clothing, hosting private gatherings in their garden, and attempting to preach the Qur’an on their quiet suburban street.
“They just started wearing all the robes and everything,” a neighbour told the Guardian. “I thought one relative was being radicalised because he stopped speaking to us for a while. He would come up the road preaching to kids about the Qur’an. It was quite intimidating and intrusive.”
The neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was “really concerned” and reported it to Greater Manchester police in the summer of 2020 or 2021, adding she would only have done so if she felt it necessary.
This information raises questions about whether Shamie should have been on counter-terrorism police’s radar before last Thursday’s attack. A witness reported hearing him shout, “This is what you’re going to get for killing our children,” as he tried to break into the building with a knife. Shamie was shot dead by police after the attack.
Greater Manchester police have been asked for comment. On Friday, they said they believed he “may have been influenced by extreme Islamist ideology.”
The neighbour recalled being invited for meals when the family first moved in about 15 years ago, but that stopped after the father, Faraj, moved out shortly after. She described the mother, Formoz, as “really nice,” chatty, and a “strong woman” who raised the three boys mostly alone.
Neighbours noticed a shift in some family members during Covid. One Prestwich resident said, “I used to talk to them all the time, and then one of them started showing up in robes. He went from not following that path to fully embracing it.”
They also mentioned that followers of Shamie and the family member would gather in the front garden, noting, “They didn’t have any white friends. I thought: what the heck is going on? It wasn’t just praying in the garden – it felt private and secret.”
Neighbours also claimed police visited Shamie’s family home earlier this year, apparently due to safeguarding concerns.
Shamie told a resident a few months ago that his partner had moved out, and he didn’t know where they were living now.
The Guardian was also informed that Shamie “became reclusive” after suffering what was described as “brain damage” from falling off a cliff about 20 years ago as a teenager.
“Jihad had a bad accident,” a neighbour said. “He fell off a cliff and was airlifted to London. He had massive head injuries; it was horrific. You didn’t see much of him after that – he became very quiet and reclusive.”
On Friday, the Guardian revealed that Shamie was on police bail for an alleged rape when he attacked the synagogue, located about two miles from his family home, last Thursday morning.
Also on Friday, Jihad’s father, Faraj al-Shamie, condemned his son’s “heinous act,” writing, “The news from Manchester regarding the terrorist attack targeting a Jewish synagogue has been a profound shock to us. The al-Shamie family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act, which targeted peaceful, innocent civilians. We fully distance ourselves from it.”We are deeply shocked and saddened by this attack. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and we pray they find strength and comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the claim that neighbors of the Manchester synagogue attacker had previously expressed concerns to the police
General Factual Questions
1 What is this story about
This story is about the 2024 attack near a Manchester synagogue Following the attack some neighbors of the assailant came forward and claimed they had previously reported their concerns about the individuals behavior to the police before the incident occurred
2 Who was the attacker
The attacker was a man in his 40s who was shot and killed by police after he used a weapon to cause serious damage to the synagogues windows and a nearby police van
3 What exactly did the neighbors claim they reported
Neighbors claimed they reported the individuals concerning behavior which they felt indicated a risk of violence or extremism Specific details of these reports have not been fully disclosed to the public
Questions About Police Community Response
4 Did the police confirm they received these reports
Yes Greater Manchester Police have acknowledged that they were in contact with the individual prior to the attack and that he was known to them
5 If police were aware why wasnt he stopped
This is the central question of the investigation Police have to balance public safety with individual rights and legal thresholds They may not have had sufficient actionable evidence at the time to legally arrest him or intervene more forcefully
6 What is a community tension assessment
This is a process where police and local authorities evaluate the potential for unrest or violence in a community often after a specific incident or based on reported concerns GMP stated they had conducted such an assessment and determined the risk was low
7 What is Prevent Was he referred to it
Prevent is the UK governments program designed to stop people from being drawn into terrorism Police have confirmed the attacker had previously been referred to the Prevent program
Deeper Systemic Questions
8 What does known to police actually mean
This phrase can range from someone having minor prior offenses to being the subject of an ongoing lowlevel investigation It doesnt necessarily mean the person was under 247 surveillance or considered an imminent highrisk threat
9 Is there a gap in the system for dealing with reported concerns
This incident has sparked a debate about whether there is a gap
