Manchester synagogue terrorist 'pledged allegiance to Islamic State' after attack

The Manchester synagogue attacker 'pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group' in a 999 call he made during the terror attack, it has emerged.

Counter Terrorism Policing North West said that Jihad Al-Shamie called 999 himself several minutes after the first report was received about the incident from a member of the public last Thursday. During the call, the 35-year-old claimed responsibility for the attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue and "pledged allegiance to Islamic State", the force said.

Al-Shamie was shot dead by police outside the Heaton Park Congregation Synagoguein Manchester after he rammed a car into pedestrians, attacked them with a knife and tried to force his way into the building.

• Weather maps show 0C freeze set to grip Brits as Arctic blast grips UK
• Westminster Bridge closed as police issue urgent warning to avoid area

Investigators believe he was acting under the influence of Islamist ideology, and the attack is being treated by police as an act of terror.

Congregation members Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, died in the attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.

Police say Daulby was accidentally shot by an armed officer as he and other congregants barricaded the synagogue to block Al-Shamie from entering. Three other men remain hospitalised with serious injuries.

On Saturday, police were granted five more days to hold four of the suspects, two men aged 30 and 32, and two women aged 46 and 61. An 18-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were released with no further action, police said.

Police have not identified those arrested or disclosed their links to Al-Shamie.

It comes after a woman who took part in an Islamic marriage to Al-Shamie said he showed abusive and controlling behaviour towards her.

She claimed he abused her both mentally and sexually, "constantly" lying to her to keep his secret safe. She told Manchester Evening News: "He was nice, then he was vile. Nice. Vile. It was his way or no way. He said that before we had a relationship, we needed to be married."

The woman, who has asked not to be named, also said she discovered after her own marriage with Al-Shamie that he already had a wife and a child in Manchester.

In one message to her appearing to admit to his existing marriage, Al-Shamie said: "Look I'm gonna be honest with you. I do have a wife and a baby son at home. I didn't tell u because I really liked you and wanted u to be my 2nd wife but I didn't know how u wud [sic] react."

Following the attack, his father Faraj Al-Shamie expressed "profound shock" in a statement, which 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.