Neighbour describes synagogue suspect as a ‘smashing lad’ who ‘didn’t stand out’

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Neighbour describes synagogue suspect as a 'smashing lad' who 'didn't stand out'

The man suspected of carrying out an attack on a synagogue in Manchester was a "smashing lad" who "didn’t stand out", a neighbour has told Sky News.

Geoff Halliwell said Jihad al Shamie was "just the same as anyone else".

He said the al Shamie family moved into their home in Manchester around 20 years ago and were "nice", with no sign anyone in the household had been radicalised.

Two people were killed after al Shamie, a Syrian-born 35-year-old, launched the attack – police said they may have accidentally shot dead one of those individuals.

Live updates: https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-pro-palestinian-protests-last-night-were-fundamentally-un-british-says-home-secretary-shabana-mahmood-12593360

#manchesterattack #synagogue #manchester #yomkippur

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Date: October 3, 2025