UK Synagogue Terrorist Was Reportedly Out on Bail for Rape

(Press Association via AP Images)

The man behind the attack at a Manchester synagogue that left two people dead this week was reportedly out on bail after being accused of rape.

On Thursday, 35-year-old Jihad al-Shamie rammed his car into pedestrians outside Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, England. He then got out of the car and stabbed multiple others. Police shot and killed al-Shamie when they arrived on the scene.

Including al-Shamie, a total of three people were killed in the chaotic scene. Police later revealed that one of the victims was shot by police.

The attacked occurred on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.

According to a report from The Guardian, al-Shamie had an extensive criminal history that included at least one accusation of sexual assault:

The Manchester synagogue terrorist was on police bail for an alleged rape when he carried out the attack, the Guardian can reveal.

Jihad al-Shamie, 35, was being investigated over the alleged sexual attack which is understood to have taken place earlier this year.

The Syrian-born attacker is also believed to have other criminal convictions, although he was not on the radar of counter-terrorism officers or of MI5.

One source told The Guardian that al-Shamie “was on nobody’s radar for terrorism but he definitely had a criminal record.” The source added that despite his record, there was “nothing to suggest he was going to do anything like this.”