Exclusive: Jihad al-Shamie had been under investigation over alleged sexual attack earlier this year, sources say
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 an alleged sexual attack, which it is understood was said to have taken place earlier this year.
Greater Manchester police said it appeared that armed officers at the synagogue accidentally shot one of the two victims killed during the terrorist attack and that they probably injured another after opening fire on the attacker.
Sources disclosed that counter-terrorism police were examining whether Shamie was responsible for a death threat sent to a former Conservative MP in 2012.
Keir Starmer called for people to “respect the grief of British Jews” after activists planning to demonstrate against the ban on Palestine Action on Saturday said cancelling the event would “let terror win”.
David Lammy, the justice secretary and deputy prime minister, was heckled and booed as he addressed a vigil close to the scene of the attack. He faced calls of “shame on you”, “go to Palestine, leave us alone” and “you have blood on your hands”.
Police named the two dead men as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. Relatives of Cravitz said he was a “gentle giant” who “would never harm a fly”. A Muslim neighbour of Daulby described him as “one of the most fantastic men I ever knew in my life”.
Rabbi Daniel Walker, who was leading a service at the synagogue at the time of the attack, told how the attacker shouted “I’m going to get you” as he tried to force his way in.
