The terrorist who killed two people at a synagogue grew up in England and gained British citizenship in 2006 at around age 16. Jihad Al-Shamie, now 35, entered the UK as a young child and his name has not appeared in initial police and security service searches.
The attacker was not thought to have been under investigation by authorities. Neighbours described him as a quiet figure who had lived in the area since around 2021.
Neighbours describe reclusive lifestyle
Local residents recalled seeing Al-Shamie working out in his garden, doing weights and press-ups. One woman told reporters: "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."
Neighbours remembered a baby living at his address but could not recall seeing a woman there. A resident from a house raided in Langley Crescent, Prestwich, told the Daily Telegraph she recognised the synagogue attacker from photographs.
She said: "He lived there 10 years, with no wife or kids that I could see. He never seemed to speak to anyone around here." The neighbour added that she recognised his small Kia car because "he'd always park it badly outside ours."
Professional background emerges
Al-Shamie was described as "quite bulked up" and kept exercise weights in his garage. ITV News reported that he worked as a tutor teaching English and computer programming, while his father is understood to be a surgeon.
Official response to attacker's name
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood (Labour) said she was "surprised" by the attacker's name when speaking on LBC. Asked about the name Jihad Al-Shamie, which presenter Nick Ferrari translated as "struggle of the Syrian", she responded: "I was very surprised to discover that name myself."
Mahmood added: "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."
Sources used: "Daily Telegraph", "ITV News", "LBC" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
