Greater Manchester Police (GMP) missed opportunities to prevent the terrorist attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue last October, Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson has admitted. Police seized Jihad Al-Shamie's mobile phones during two arrests before the attack but did not analyse them, missing incriminating extremist messages exchanged with fellow jihadist Mohammad Bashir.
Al-Shamie, 35, was on bail when he carried out the attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, on October 2, 2024. He wore a fake suicide belt and stabbed worshippers, killing Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, who was shot by a stray police bullet. Al-Shamie was shot dead by police.
Chief constable's apology
Sir Stephen said: "In conducting an internal review, it became apparent that GMP had seized Al-Shamie's mobile devices. The significance of the data contents of these devices was substantial in respect of evidencing an extremist mindset." He added: "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 October 2."
He continued: "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."
Missed opportunities
Al-Shamie was arrested on February 13, 2025 for breaching a non-molestation order and again on September 21, 2025 on suspicion of rape. His devices were seized but not examined until after the attack. Only then did counter-terror police uncover messages and voice notes revealing Al-Shamie and Bashir were committed to violent jihad.
Bashir, 31, of Cheetham Hill, drove Al-Shamie on a 10-hour round trip to conduct hostile reconnaissance at the UK Defence Academy in Shrivenham, Swindon, on August 14, 2024. He pleaded guilty to preparation of terrorist acts and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday.
Extremist messages
Messages uncovered after the attack showed the pair discussing jihad and martyrdom. In one exchange on November 23, 2024, Al-Shamie criticised "cowards" of liberal Islam. Bashir complained about a WhatsApp group admin deleting posts about jihad and radical preacher Ahmad Musa Jibril. Al-Shamie wrote: "We can't do anything, sit around and wait for corrupt scholars to tell u to do jihad (they never will) the ummah is like this cos we're weak."
On November 13, 2024, Al-Shamie posted a Daily Mail article about a Sunday school teacher recruiting jihadis, writing: "Found a wife for the brothers that are looking." He privately messaged Bashir: "your future wife in sha Allah." Bashir replied: "may Allah aid the sister and protect her from the kafir (non believer) prisons."
On November 18, 2024, they discussed getting ready for "war" and buying "equipment." Al-Shamie sent an image suggesting he "got built like this by eating raw clean" and with a "home gym." Bashir said he would join Al-Shamie playing football to improve fitness and then "call out the biggest Jews to scrap."
Voice notes and group chats
Police also found voice notes where Al-Shamie expressed envy about mujahideen in Syria: "I feel envy about not being there... It looks amazing akhi." He said: "I would love to go. I've had enough of this world. I've had enough of this life. I've had enough of all of it akhi." Bashir described Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as a "kafir" and said: "I have seen some beautiful videos of his soldiers being killed, you know, beheaded and shot dead."
Al-Shamie set up a WhatsApp group named "aspiring to the ranks of the elite" with 12 members. His first message read: "Brothers this is a group where more advanced Islamic things can be posted." In one message, he wrote: "Take their beautiful Jewish women as concubines, exterminate the men, and restore honour and glory to our Muslims lands and brothers and sisters." He also referenced "filthy alawite homos" and the group shared videos of hate preacher Anwar al-Awlaki.
Watchdog investigation
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating police contact with Al-Shamie before the attack, including the handling of rape allegations. A spokesman said: "We will consider whether GMP missed any opportunities to prevent the tragic events that occurred last year." The IOPC has advised one officer they are under investigation for potential misconduct regarding the handling of rape and other sexual offence allegations against Al-Shamie.
Marc Levy, chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, said: "I'm sure it will be a source of distress and disappointment that there's a potential that this terrorist attack could have been foiled had police followed proper protocols." However, he added the Jewish community "has real faith" in GMP and Sir Stephen, noting they have been "exceptional on a day-to-day basis" in caring for the community amid record antisemitism.
The Community Security Trust (CST) said it was "distressing" to learn of missed opportunities but welcomed the apology. A CST statement said: "None of this detracts from the courage of the officers who responded on the day of the Heaton Park Synagogue attack, or the continuous support that the police have shown to Manchester's Jewish community since then."
