British authorities have made a significant arrest in their ongoing investigation into last month’s deadly terrorist attack outside a Manchester synagogue. Greater Manchester Police apprehended a 31-year-old man at Manchester Airport on Thursday on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses involving “commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.” The suspect was detained immediately upon arriving on an inbound flight.
The arrest connects to the October 2 attack outside Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue during Yom Kippur observances, Judaism’s holiest day. The assailant, identified as Syria-born British national Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, had reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group before carrying out his assault.
Al-Shamie initiated his attack by ramming a vehicle into pedestrians outside the synagogue before exiting with a knife. His violent rampage resulted in the deaths of two congregation members—Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53—while seriously injuring three other men. The attacker was subsequently shot and killed by responding police officers.
Tragically, investigation details reveal that while Cravitz died from stab wounds inflicted by Al-Shamie, Daulby was accidentally shot by a police officer as congregants barricaded the synagogue entrance to prevent the attacker from entering.
This latest arrest brings the total number of individuals detained in connection with the attack to seven. Previous police operations in northwest England’s Greater Manchester area led to six arrests, five of whom were released without charge. One 30-year-old suspect remains on bail under suspicion of failing to disclose information about a crime as investigations continue.