Jihad Al-Shamie pledged allegiance to ‘Islamic State’ in 999 call

The man who carried out the Manchester synagogue attack made a 999 call in which he pledged allegiance to the group calling itself Islamic State.

Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead by police outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue after a car and knife attack that saw two Jewish men killed.

The call was made after Al-Shamie’s car hit a wall after he drove into worshippers, a spokesperson for Counter Terrorism Police North West confirmed.

Melvin Cravitz, 66, and 53-year-old Adrian Daulby died in the attack on Middleton Road around 09:30 BST on 2 October.

It was confirmed later that Mr Daulby was shot by a police bullet which penetrated through the door of the synagogue in Crumpsall as armed officers opened fire on Al-Shamie – who was wearing a fake bomb vest.

A police bullet also struck another man, Yoni Finlay, who is recovering in hospital after surgery.

Two other men remain in hospital after sustaining serious injuries in the attack, including one who was stabbed in the neck and chest.

Al-Shamie walked to the synagogue on foot around 15 minutes earlier, police said, and was asked to leave due to his “suspicious” behaviour.

Doorbell camera footage obtained by the BBC showed him walking down White House Avenue a short distance away from the synagogue, where he is believed to have parked a black Kia Picanto car, at 09:22.

The black Kia Picanto also matches the description of a car driven through the gates at the synagogue and at worshippers.

As with the car used in the attack, the back right hubcab can be seen missing from the vehicle in the footage.

This week, Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said the force has put “every available resource into making sure that we understand precisely what has happened”.

Sir Stephen said:” There is a limit to what I can say at this juncture in terms of the dynamics of that investigation.

“Suffice to say that we know that there are answers that people require, and those answers will be forthcoming as soon as it is appropriate to give them.

“I do want to reassure people that no stone is being left unturned.”