Police Failed to Check Manchester Synagogue Attacker's Phones Despite Arresting Him Twice The apology from Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson is a long overdue acknowledgment of a catastrophic failure in the handling of Jihad Al Shamie's case.
The revelation that phones seized from Al Shamie twice prior to his attack on Heaton Park Synagogue were not examined until after the assault raises fundamental questions about police oversight and the efficacy of intelligence gathering.
Al Shamie was arrested on February 13, 2025, and again on September 21, 2025.