Who was the Manchester synagogue attacker?

The Manchester synagogue attacker had been arrested on suspicion of rape and released on bail before the deadly attack on Thursday.

Jihad Al-Shamie, known to be a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, was not charged with the offence.

Al-Shamie, who lived in Prestwich, Manchester, 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.

In a statement following the stabbing, Al-Shamie’s family said: “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 strength and comfort.”

People in Prestwich told the BBC Al-Shamie was a weightlifting enthusiast who rarely spoke to his neighbours.

They said he would sometimes dress into western clothes and other times “traditional” Syrian dress.

On behalf of the Al-Shamie family in the UK and abroad, his father Faraj Al-Shamie said: “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 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 strength and comfort.

“We kindly request that all media outlets respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time and refrain from using this tragic event in any context that does not reflect the truth.

“May God have mercy on the innocent victims, and we pray for the swift recovery of the injured.”

A post on his father’s Facebook page, which has been verified by the BBC, appears to praise the 7 October attack by Hamas.

About 1,200 people in Israel were killed when Hamas gunmen stormed through the border, while 251 others were taken hostage.

The post reads: “The scenes broadcast by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades showing a group of fighters storming an occupation army camp with simple means, balloons and motorcycles, prove beyond any doubt that Israel is not here to stay.

“Men like these prove that they are Allah’s men on earth, regardless of who leads them, they are the true compass for men confident in their victory, even if their resources are few.”

Geoff Haliwell lives near a house in Langley Crescent, Prestwich, that is believed to be the Al-Shamie family home. It was raided by police officers on Thursday.

Mr Haliwell, 72, said the property used to be on his window-cleaning round and he knew the wider family “a little”, saying they were “really nice people”.

“I was astonished, I was shocked,” he said, adding that he believed the Al-Shamies moved to the street about 15 years ago.

He said the father had lived there for five or six years but then left the home, later visiting in a car with French number plates.

He said Jihad Al-Shamie would sometimes wear western clothes and other times traditional Syrian dress. He also said Al-Shamie would use benches to work out.

He added: “I would see him at least once or twice a week, we just said ‘hello’.

“I didn’t even know his name.

“He was just a straightforward, ordinary lad, nothing would stand out to make you think he was.”

Another neighbour remembered a baby also living at the address but could not recall seeing a woman living there.

She said: “We used to see him out in the garden working out, doing weights, press ups.

“He used to change his clothes.

“One day he would be wearing the full gown, to the floor and the next jeans and pyjama bottoms.”

Another resident told the Daily Telegraph: “I recognised him from the pictures of the attacker. I recognised his little car, the Kia, because he’d always park it badly outside ours.

“I’d see him walking around in his pyjamas and slip-on sandals, carrying a shopping bag.

“He was quite bulked-up and used to keep his exercise weights in his garage. I’d see them there.”

“He never seemed to speak to anyone around here,” they added.

Al-Shamie’s name has not appeared in initial searches of police and security service counter-terrorism records, and he is not thought to have been under current investigation.

There are reports Al-Shamie used to work as a tutor teaching English and computer programming and his father is a surgeon.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “surprised” by the attacker’s name.

Speaking on LBC, Ms Mahmood was asked about the attacker’s name, Jihad Al-Shamie, which presenter Nick Ferrari translated as “struggle of the Syrian”.

She said: “I was very surprised to discover that name myself.

“Actually, as a Muslim, I’ve never heard someone being called Jihad, but it is the name that he was born with – that has always been his name.”

Additionally, the Syrian British Consortium, Rethink Rebuild Society and Syria Solidarity Campaign released a joint statement.

They said: “At this stage, no-one within our Syrian community networks – neither within or beyond Manchester – has been able to identify the individual involved in this attack or confirm knowing him personally.”