Police 'believed synagogue attacker had real bomb'

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended the police's swift actions

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said police who shot the Manchester synagogue attacker had "every reason" to believe he was carrying a real bomb.

Two people died when Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, carried out the car and knife attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on 2 October. One of them, Adrian Daulby, 53, was hit by a police bullet.

Speaking in the House of Commons earlier, Mahmood reiterated that officers had shot Al-Shamie dead within seven minutes of receiving the first 999 call.

"He was wearing what was determined to be a fake explosive device but it should be remembered that all present had every reason to believe that bomb was real," she said.

"Police acted in a situation when they believed a terrorist was likely to detonate an explosive device."

She said an investigation into the police response by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) was continuing.

"The necessary processes must now take their course and I expect the IOPC to complete them as quickly as possible," Mahmood said.

Shabana Mahmood visited the scene of the attack earlier this month

Mahmood said the bravery of the two men who died in the attack "saved countless lives".

Melvin Kravitz, 66, was run down by Al-Shamie while Mr Daulby was accidentally shot by police while helping to hold the doors of the synagogue closed.

"This is a moment of profound national sorrow," Mahmood said.

"An attack on our Jewish community is an attack on this entire nation."

Mahmood also repeated that Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, was not known to counter-terrorism police or security forces.

However, he was on bail for rape charges at the time of the attack.

"We know he came to this country as a child and was registered as a British citizen while still a minor," she said.

"Investigators believe the attacker was influenced by extreme Islamist ideology evident in a 999 call he made during the incident, in which he pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

"I know that there are many questions that the public, rightly, demands answers to as do members of this House. Those answers will come."