EXCLUSIVE: Details about a separate criminal conviction have also emerged
16:38, 10 Oct 2025Updated 22:18, 10 Oct 2025
Synagogue attacker Jihad Al-Shamie(Image: Submitted)
Manchester synagogue terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie was being investigated over two alleged rapes, the Manchester Evening News can reveal.
Two women made reports to police, it is understood, in December 2024 and September 2025. Al-Shamie, 35, was on bail when he carried out last week’s attack at the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue.
“Further work is required to understand all the circumstances around the investigations and, as stated on Wednesday, this is currently subject to assessment by the Independent Office of Police Complaints,” Greater Manchester Police said on Friday (October 10).
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It was initially reported in the national press Al-Shamie was under investigation over one rape allegation, but further details have now emerged.
The force said he had a conviction for possession of Class B drugs in 2012. He also had a ‘street warning’ for cannabis when he was a teenager and had received a penalty notice for shoplifting.
An IOPC investigation will scrutinise GMP’s contact with Al-Shamie over the rape allegations and the progress officers had made.
The watchdog has already found ‘no apparent misconduct’ in the case of armed officers who fired their weapons during the terror attack last Thursday (October 2).
Jihad Al-Shamie (Image: MEN MEDIA)
The IOPC has informed the three Greater Manchester Police officers who aimed at Al-Shamie they are being treated as witnesses to the investigation.
Al-Shamie made a 999 call midway through the attack, identifying himself as responsible for the atrocity and pledging his allegiance to the Islamic State, police earlier said.
He is reported to have told an operator: “I have killed two Jews in the name of the Islamic State.”
Adrian Daulby, 53, and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz died during the attack, in which Al-Shamie drove his car at worshippers and wielded knives outside the synagogue.
The terrorist is also said to have shouted ‘this is what you’re going to get for killing our children’. He was shot dead by armed police in the grounds of the synagogue after failing to gain entrance to the building.
Tributes outside the synagogue(Image: William Lailey / SWNS)
Mr Daulby died after being caught in the crossfire. He was behind the entrance door to the synagogue bravely keeping it shut to prevent Al-Shamie getting in when he was hit by a bullet fired by police.
Mr Cravitz is said to have been outside when he was fatally injured. Yoni Finlay, a 35-year-old father of three who helped barricade the door, was also hit by a stray bullet fired by a police marksman but is recovering. Three men remain in hospital with serious injuries, including a security guard with car impact injuries and a Community Security Trust (CST) worker with stab wounds
GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson, responding to the IOPC’s initial findings said: “Following the horrendous terrorist attack on Thursday 2 October 2025, Greater Manchester Police has been inundated with messages of thanks and support for the actions that our brave officers took to prevent further harm to our Jewish community who were inside and around the Heaton Park Synagogue.
“I welcome this continued support and acknowledge the fact that the IOPC have today confirmed their finding that no misconduct is apparent in the actions required of our officers in bringing this dreadful attack to an end. These findings relate to the death of the terrorist and to the tragic death of Mr Adrian Daulby; and the injury sustained by another courageous member of the congregation.
From left: Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby
“Our thoughts will always be with the families and loved ones of those directly affected by this tragedy together with the wider community across Greater Manchester and beyond. Our significant presence and determination to protect everyone from all faith communities across our city region will continue unabated.
“GMP is committed to openness, transparency and candour in respect of all our previous dealings with the terrorist. We have therefore asked the IOPC to include this aspect in their ongoing review. This includes previous reports of harassment, and an arrest for reports of rape over the past year, for which he was on bail at the time of the attack.”
Reportedly a university dropout, Al-Shamie was born in Syria but was granted British citizenship in 2006 when he was around 16 having entered the UK as a young child. He was on police bail accused of rape when he carried out the attack in Crumpsall.
Police said he ‘may have been influenced by extreme Islamist ideology’.