Free Republic

The picture is still slowly building surrounding the life of Jihad Al-Shamie but he is known to have been a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent. Al-Shamie is understood to have entered the UK as a young child and was granted British citizenship in 2006 when he was around the age of 16. He lived in Prestwich, Manchester, and his family today released a statement saying: "We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened. "Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we pray for their...

The Yom Kippur killer was on bail for alleged rape before his synagogue attack, it emerged last night. Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was under investigation by Greater Manchester Police over a sexual attack carried out this year and was due to appear in court. It is believed unemployed Al-Shamie was also facing mounting debts and the collapse of his marriage, with his wife leaving the family home with their one-year-old son six months ago. Residents said he was a loner who spent his days in pyjamas, bulking up by weightlifting in his garden and annoying neighbours by parking his battered Kia...

Deputy PM David Lammy was booed at a Manchester synagogue vigil after the Yom Kippur attack. The assailant, previously accused of rape, had been freed on bail. His father condemned the attack but had praised Hamas on Oct. 7. Ynet Global|10.03.15.14:58 Jihad al-Shami, the attacker who carried out the Yom Kippur synagogue attack in Manchester, had recently been released on bail after being accused of rape and was due to appear in court soon, Britain’s Guardian reported Friday. According to the report, al-Shami was investigated over a rape earlier this year and had past convictions for several criminal offenses. Despite...

Jews across the UK have been urged to lock their doors and not to congregate in groups as police patrols are stepped up outside synagogues and in areas with large Jewish populations after the Manchester attack. Sir Keir Starmer told the Jewish community that he would do “everything in my power to guarantee you the security you deserve” as he announced additional police officers and assets would be deployed to all Jewish communities. Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, said that she would “do whatever is required” to keep the Jewish community safe as she visited the site of the attack...