Counter-terrorism police have been given permission to hold four suspects in custody until Wednesday after this week’s attack at a Manchester synagogue.
Six people have been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism after Jihad al-Shamie killed a worshipper and seriously injured several others on Thursday. The attack took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Officers said on Friday that they believed Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, may have been “influenced by extreme Islamist ideology” but added: “Establishing the full circumstances of the attack is likely to take some time.”
The Guardian revealed on Friday that Shamie was on police bail for an alleged rape when he drove a car at members of the public before stabbing people at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in the Crumpsall area of the city.
Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, died in the attack. Police said they believed Daulby had been killed by a stray gunshot wound as armed officers shot Shamie. It was initially feared Shamie was wearing an explosive device, but it was later confirmed to be fake.
Police said on Saturday that specialist officers had been granted warrants of further detention in relation to two men, age 30 and 32, and a 61-year-old woman, arrested in Prestwich, near Bury. The fourth warrant concerns a 46-year-old woman who was arrested in Farnworth, near Bolton.
In most cases, suspects must be released or charged within 24 hours of arriving at a police station, but this can be extended in more serious cases. Special exemptions apply to those suspected of a terror offence, who can be held for up to 14 days, pending court approval.
The Manchester investigation is being led by Counter Terrorism Policing North West, with support from the national counter-terrorism policing network and local officers.
A further two suspects – an 18-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man, who were also arrested in Farnworth – are still being questioned in custody. There remained a heavy police presence outside a property in Farnworth throughout Saturday. Neighbours said they understood this was related to the synagogue attack, describing the developments as “shocking” and “terrible”.
The Conservative party leader, Kemi Badenoch, visited the scene of the attack on Saturday before the party’s annual conference, which begins in the city on Sunday. Badenoch called for greater security for Britain’s Jewish population, saying some were “leaving to go to Israel”.
Badenoch said: “Right now, what we’re seeing is people exercising their rights, but not responsibilities. Where is the responsibility to make sure that people are not intimidated? Where is the responsibility to make sure that people are treated equally under the law?
“Jewish people right now are telling me that they are leaving to go to Israel. Israel is at war. How can people be leaving the UK to go to a war zone and think that they’ll be safer there? We need to bring back safety to our streets.”
Badenoch added that “quite a lot needs to happen” to combat antisemitism, which has risen since the October 7 attacks almost two years ago.
