Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson has apologised after phones belonging to Jihad Al-Shamie, the Heaton Park Synagogue attacker, were seized twice but not examined prior to the October 2025 assault that killed two men. The devices contained evidence of his extremist views, and an IOPC investigation is underway.
Mohammad Bashir was jailed for life by a UK court for plotting a terror attack on the UK's Defence Academy with Jihad Al-Shamie, who later carried out a deadly synagogue stabbing in Manchester. Bashir pleaded guilty to preparation of terrorist acts.
Greater Manchester Police apologized for a "missed opportunity" to examine seized phones of synagogue attacker Jihad al-Shamie before his October 2023 attack, which could have revealed his extremist mindset. The apology followed the life sentencing of Mohammad Bashir for planning a separate terrorist act on the UK Defence Academy with Shamie.
Syrian singer Al-Shami, also known as Abdulrahman Fawaz, released a new song titled "Ayesh La Ouyounak" with young Lebanese singer Lynn Al-Hayek. The song, which he wrote and composed, has garnered nearly 1.3 million views on YouTube and ranked third globally among trending songs.
