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Police chief ‘deeply sorry’ over missed opportunity to stop Heaton Park synagogue terror attack
Apology comes after jailing of Al-Shamie’s friend and accomplice, Mohammad Bashir, 31, sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday at Manchester Crown Court
A police chief said he is “deeply sorry” over missed opportunities to potentially uncover the plot to attack a synagogue in Manchester.
Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead by police on October 2 last year while he carried out his terrorist attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in which two worshippers were killed.
But police had already seized his mobile phone containing details of his extremist mindset and terror-fixation but did not analyse the contents until after he launched the attack.
The apology came after details emerged with the jailing of Al-Shamie’s friend and accomplice, Mohammad Bashir, 31, who was sentence to life imprisonment on Thursday at Manchester Crown Court for planning a separate terror attack with Al-Shamie on the UK Defence Academy at Shrivenham.
After the hearing, Sir Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said: “The conclusion of legal proceedings against Bashir means that the rules which prevent the sharing of information about live criminal cases are now lifted.
“Today therefore marks the first possible opportunity for me to provide additional information as to the nature of the contact that GMP had with Al-Shamie prior to his cowardly attack upon those attending the synagogue.
“It is factually the case that Al-Shamie had come to the notice of GMP in respect of two linked criminal allegations which did not relate to terrorist offences.
“These allegations resulted in his being arrested on the 13th February 2025 on suspicion of breaching a non-molestation order; and on the 21st September 2025 on suspicion of rape.
“At the time of his committing the attack at the Heaton Park Synagogue, Al-Shamie was on police bail.
“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.
“Regrettably, I can confirm that the significance of the information stored on Al-Shamie’s devices was not realised as they had not been examined before the attack took place on the 2nd of October 2025.
“There can however, be little doubt that the information contained within these devices would have inspired further investigative action.
“It is clear that our not having reviewed the data available to us prior to the attack constitutes a missed opportunity.
“It is clear that our not having reviewed the data available to us prior to the attack constitutes a missed opportunity.
“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.
“It is my fervent hope and expectation that the continuing independent reviews and processes will be able to draw together all the available evidence such as to leave no question unanswered.
“I have already made direct contact with those personally affected by Al-Shamie’s barbarism, together with representatives of our Jewish community, to apprise them of this development.
“I thank them for their continuing support.
“GMP is unwavering in our commitment to all people across Greater Manchester and to strive to do all that is possible to sustain the fight against hatred, extremism and terrorism.”
Sir Stephen said the forthcoming inquests into the deaths of the two men murdered by Al-Shamie at the synagogue, Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby, will examine “all aspects of the attack” and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is also conducting a review.
He said it is for the IOPC and the coroner to determine the “impact” of police not reviewing the contents of Al-Shamie’s devices before the attack took place.
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