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.
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.
A 49-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the Manchester synagogue attack in October 2025, which killed two worshippers. This brings the total arrests to eight.
An Iraqi man, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, 32, appeared in federal court Friday accused of plotting to bomb a New York synagogue and other Jewish establishments. Prosecutors allege he was tied to Iranian-backed militant groups and planned attacks in NYC, Los Angeles, and Scottsdale, Arizona, for April 6.
A 17-year-old boy from Brent has been charged with arson after an attack on Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, north-west London. The teenager, a British national, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court. A 19-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of arson. The attack is the latest in a series of incidents targeting Jewish sites, including destroyed ambulances in Golders Green and attacks in Finchley and Hendon. A group suspected to be Iran-backed has claimed responsibility.
The Kenton United Synagogue, in Harrow, north-west London was targeted at about midnight on Sunday.
