Catherine Murphy & Jonny HumphriesNorth West
A 999 call was made by the Manchester synagogue attacker Jihad Al-Shamie
The man who carried out the Manchester synagogue attack made a 999 call in which he pledged allegiance to the group calling itself Islamic State.
Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead by police outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue after the car and knife attack that saw two Jewish men killed.
The call was made after Al-Shamie drove into worshippers and hit a wall, Counter Terrorism Police North West confirmed.
Meanwhile, in a fresh update, police said four more people arrested during the investigation were set to be released without charge.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts from Counter Terrorism Police North West said: “This remains a live counter-terrorism investigation”
Six people were held in the aftermath, with two – a man and a woman – arrested in the hours after the attack and released on Sunday evening.
The following day, detectives said they had been given extra time to question the remaining four, who were also detained on “suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism”.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, of Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said “further releases were planned” but that “did not mean the investigation was complete”.
Police also confirmed that a suspected explosive belt Al-Shamie was wearing around his waist was a “hoax device” that had since been assessed and “found to be non-viable”.
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Adrian Daulby was hit by a police bullet as officers responded to the incident
Melvin Cravitz, 66, and 53-year-old Adrian Daulby died in the attack on Middleton Road in Crumpsall at about 09:30 BST on 2 October.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has now confirmed that Mr Daulby suffered a “single but fatal” gunshot wound after armed police officers responded to the incident.
A police bullet also struck another man, Yoni Finlay, who is recovering in hospital after surgery.
Two other men remain in hospital after sustaining serious injuries in the attack, including one who was stabbed in the neck and chest.
The IOPC said its investigation will look at whether police “may have caused or contributed to the death of Mr Daulby” and “any role the police may have played in the injuries suffered by the other man who suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound during the incident”.
The police watchdog said three Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers who fired their weapons while responding to the synagogue attack have been told they will be treated as “witnesses to the investigation” with several other officers involved also being treated as witnesses.
IOPC director Emily Barry said: “As is standard in cases like this, we have gathered a significant amount of evidence as we piece together the events surrounding officers’ use of lethal force during the attack.
“At the same time, Counter Terrorism Policing North West continues to work tirelessly to investigate the attack – and we are working alongside them to ensure both investigations can progress as smoothly and efficiently as possible.”
She said: “We have also been in contact with Mr Daulby’s family, along with the other man injured in the incident and his family, to explain our role and will continue to provide support as needed.”
The watchdog said it had also received a further referral from GMP in relation to prior contact with Al-Shamie since December 2024, when an allegation of rape was made against him.
“We are currently assessing the available information to determine whether an investigation into this matter is required,” it added.
The attacker walked back to his car after first visiting the synagogue where he was asked to leave
GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said he welcomed that the IOPC had found “no misconduct is apparent” in the force’s response to the synagogue attack.
“These findings relate to the death of the terrorist and to the tragic death of Mr Adrian Daulby; and the injury sustained by another courageous member of the congregation,” he said.
“Our thoughts will always be with the families and loved ones of those directly affected by this tragedy together with the wider community across Greater Manchester and beyond.
“GMP is committed to openness, transparency and candour in respect of all our previous dealings with the terrorist.”
He added: “We have therefore asked the IOPC to include this aspect in their ongoing review. This includes previous reports of harassment, and an arrest for reports of rape over the past year, for which he was on bail at the time of the attack.”
Al-Shamie walked to the synagogue on foot around 15 minutes before the attack, police said, and was asked to leave due to his “suspicious” behaviour.
Doorbell camera footage obtained by the BBC showed him walking down White House Avenue a short distance away from the synagogue, where he is believed to have parked a black Kia Picanto car, at 09:22.
The black Kia Picanto also matches the description of a car driven through the gates at the synagogue and at worshippers.
As with the car used in the attack, the back right hubcab can be seen missing from the vehicle in the footage.
