Police Apologise After Synagogue Attacker's Seized Phones Were Not Examined
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- 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.
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Warum es wichtig ist
Jihad Al-Shamie carried out a car and knife attack on Heaton Park Synagogue in October 2025, killing two men, while on bail for an alleged rape. His mobile devices, containing evidence of extreme views, were seized twice before the attack but not analysed.
A police chief has apologised after admitting phones were twice seized from the Manchester synagogue attacker months before the car and knife assault but they were not examined.
Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was on bail for an alleged rape when he carried out the attack on Heaton Park Synagogue in Crumpsall on 2 October 2025, in which two Jewish men were killed.
His devices, which contained evidence of his extreme views, were seized after he was arrested in February and September but not analysed.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said he was "deeply sorry", conceding that "the information contained within these devices would have inspired further investigative action".
Sir Stephen said the end of legal proceedings against Mohammad Bashir, who has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years for plotting a separate attack with Al-Shamie, meant rules around sharing information about a live criminal case had been lifted.
He said: "In conducting an internal review, it became apparent that GMP had seized Al-Shamie's mobile devices, at the point of each arrest.
"The significance of the data contents of these devices was substantial in respect of evidencing an extremist mindset.
"I am disappointed at the prospect of adding to the distress of all of those affected by the terrible events last October.
"For this, I am deeply sorry."
The apology came after Bashir's sentencing over the plot with Al-Shamie to attack the UK's Defence Academy in Shrivenham.
Details emerged in the case at Manchester Crown Court that the pair had been discussing their extremist views in WhatsApp chats, including preparing for a "war".
The court was played footage showing the moment Al-Shamie and Bashir discussed becoming martyrs.
Meanwhile, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it was investigating "all previous contact between Greater Manchester Police and Jihad Al-Shamie prior to the terror attack on 2 October 2025".
A spokesperson for the police watchdog said this included the actions taken by police in response to reports of crimes committed by him.
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The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will continue its investigation into GMP's previous contact with Jihad Al-Shamie.
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Offene Fragen
- Why were Al-Shamie's seized phones not examined?
- What specific protocols failed within GMP?
- What specific information was missed on the devices?
