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| Wife of synagogue attacker says he showed no signs of extremism | Wife of synagogue attacker says he showed no signs of extremism |
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| Exclusive: Wife of Jihad al-Shamie says he was ‘intimidating, aggressive and controlling’ but did not seem radicalised | Exclusive: Wife of Jihad al-Shamie says he was ‘intimidating, aggressive and controlling’ but did not seem radicalised |
| The Manchester synagogue attacker was “intimidating, aggressive and controlling” but showed no sign of extremism before carrying out his lethal antisemitic attack, one of his wives has said. | The Manchester synagogue attacker was “intimidating, aggressive and controlling” but showed no sign of extremism before carrying out his lethal antisemitic attack, one of his wives has said. |
| The woman, who married Jihad al-Shamie in an Islamic ceremony in 2021, said the 35-year-old was “glued to his phone” watching Arabic news channels but did not appear to be on the path to terror. | The woman, who married Jihad al-Shamie in an Islamic ceremony in 2021, said the 35-year-old was “glued to his phone” watching Arabic news channels but did not appear to be on the path to terror. |
| Police revealed on Wednesday that Shamie – who was not on the radar of counter-terror officers – called 999 and pledged allegiance to the extremist group Islamic State during his deadly assault last week. | Police revealed on Wednesday that Shamie – who was not on the radar of counter-terror officers – called 999 and pledged allegiance to the extremist group Islamic State during his deadly assault last week. |
| His wife told the Guardian she now believes he was “living a lie with his religion” and that he had never seemed radicalised during their turbulent three-year relationship. “Throughout [their relationship] he hasn’t talked about any of that,” she said. | His wife told the Guardian she now believes he was “living a lie with his religion” and that he had never seemed radicalised during their turbulent three-year relationship. “Throughout [their relationship] he hasn’t talked about any of that,” she said. |
| “I wouldn’t say he’s got the mindset of being a terrorist from what I know of him – but at the same time how aggressive he was, how manipulating he was.” | “I wouldn’t say he’s got the mindset of being a terrorist from what I know of him – but at the same time how aggressive he was, how manipulating he was.” |
| Shamie, who was born in Syria but moved to Britain as a child, led a complex and increasingly chaotic life before he attacked a Heaton Park synagogue in north Manchester on Yom Kippur last week, leading to the deaths of two worshippers. | Shamie, who was born in Syria but moved to Britain as a child, led a complex and increasingly chaotic life before he attacked a Heaton Park synagogue in north Manchester on Yom Kippur last week, leading to the deaths of two worshippers. |
| The Guardian revealed last week that the killer was on police bail for an alleged rape at the time of the attack. It has also emerged that he appears to have had Islamic marriages to three women in towns across the north of England at the same time, fathering two young children to one of them. | The Guardian revealed last week that the killer was on police bail for an alleged rape at the time of the attack. It has also emerged that he appears to have had Islamic marriages to three women in towns across the north of England at the same time, fathering two young children to one of them. |
| The 38-year-old, who cannot be identified, described how Shamie was “controlling and manipulating”, admonishing her for drinking energy drinks, encouraging her to go to the mosque, read the Qur’an and pray with him, and later refusing her requests for a divorce. | The 38-year-old, who cannot be identified, described how Shamie was “controlling and manipulating”, admonishing her for drinking energy drinks, encouraging her to go to the mosque, read the Qur’an and pray with him, and later refusing her requests for a divorce. |
| However, she said that he had never appeared radicalised and was a “normal” practising Muslim, adding that he had barely mentioned Israel’s attack on Gaza – which counter-terror police are examining as a potential motive for his attack. One witness heard him shout: “This is what you’re going to get for killing our children” as he tried to force his way into the synagogue armed with a knife last Thursday. | However, she said that he had never appeared radicalised and was a “normal” practising Muslim, adding that he had barely mentioned Israel’s attack on Gaza – which counter-terror police are examining as a potential motive for his attack. One witness heard him shout: “This is what you’re going to get for killing our children” as he tried to force his way into the synagogue armed with a knife last Thursday. |
| She said: “Was he this terrorist all along or was he crying out for help? Who knows? Maybe [he did it because of] his messed-up life, because he’s playing too many people. Apparently he was up for rape with the police. There’s so many questions. | She said: “Was he this terrorist all along or was he crying out for help? Who knows? Maybe [he did it because of] his messed-up life, because he’s playing too many people. Apparently he was up for rape with the police. There’s so many questions. |
| “Did he do it because he knew he was going to get found out about these other women and he was up [on police bail] for [rape]? Or was he just mentally fed up and drained because he couldn’t carry on living the lifestyle?” | “Did he do it because he knew he was going to get found out about these other women and he was up [on police bail] for [rape]? Or was he just mentally fed up and drained because he couldn’t carry on living the lifestyle?” |
| Police said on Wednesday that Shamie pledged allegiance to Islamic State in a call to 999 during the attack but reiterated that he was not known to counter-terror officers. However, he is known to have a criminal past and was under investigation for an alleged rape. | Police said on Wednesday that Shamie pledged allegiance to Islamic State in a call to 999 during the attack but reiterated that he was not known to counter-terror officers. However, he is known to have a criminal past and was under investigation for an alleged rape. |
| The Guardian revealed this week that police officers attended his family home earlier this year, believed to be in relation to safeguarding concerns. He lived at the property in Prestwich, north Manchester, with his mother and one of his wives and their two children, aged one and three. After the police visit, he told neighbours that his wife had left and would not let him see their children. | The Guardian revealed this week that police officers attended his family home earlier this year, believed to be in relation to safeguarding concerns. He lived at the property in Prestwich, north Manchester, with his mother and one of his wives and their two children, aged one and three. After the police visit, he told neighbours that his wife had left and would not let him see their children. |
| In an hour-long interview on Wednesday, a separate wife described how Shamie had led a double life and initially kept his Manchester family secret. She said they met on the Muslim dating app Muzmatch (now called Muzz) in December 2021 and married in an Islamic ceremony the following month. | In an hour-long interview on Wednesday, a separate wife described how Shamie had led a double life and initially kept his Manchester family secret. She said they met on the Muslim dating app Muzmatch (now called Muzz) in December 2021 and married in an Islamic ceremony the following month. |
| Shamie is said to have used multiple online personae, frequently using the name “Jay” and in one profile calling himself Dormammu Seven – a reference to a comic-book devil. His interests included anime and the Marvel series, working out, playing football, praying at the mosque and attending Islamic talks, she said, adding that he did not drink or take drugs. | Shamie is said to have used multiple online personae, frequently using the name “Jay” and in one profile calling himself Dormammu Seven – a reference to a comic-book devil. His interests included anime and the Marvel series, working out, playing football, praying at the mosque and attending Islamic talks, she said, adding that he did not drink or take drugs. |
| The woman, a Muslim convert, said she last spoke to him in April this year, shortly after he passed his driving test. Speaking about their relationship, she described how he had been nice at first but then became “controlling, manipulating” and “intimidating and aggressive”, adding: “He would be slating me and my children and would say ‘Who would want you and your baggage?’” | The woman, a Muslim convert, said she last spoke to him in April this year, shortly after he passed his driving test. Speaking about their relationship, she described how he had been nice at first but then became “controlling, manipulating” and “intimidating and aggressive”, adding: “He would be slating me and my children and would say ‘Who would want you and your baggage?’” |
| She said Shamie had raped her multiple times but that she did not report this to police until after the synagogue attack. The woman said she had now given a first witness account and handed over her mobile phone to investigators. | She said Shamie had raped her multiple times but that she did not report this to police until after the synagogue attack. The woman said she had now given a first witness account and handed over her mobile phone to investigators. |
| Text messages seen by the Guardian show Shamie refusing her request for a divorce when she discovered he had children with another woman at his home in Manchester. In another he tells her: “I can do better … don’t need someone with your baggage,” and to “stop being silly and paranoid”. He wrote: “I’ve already taken u back as my wife u don’t get to just dissappear [sic] and block me [it] doesn’t work like that.” | Text messages seen by the Guardian show Shamie refusing her request for a divorce when she discovered he had children with another woman at his home in Manchester. In another he tells her: “I can do better … don’t need someone with your baggage,” and to “stop being silly and paranoid”. He wrote: “I’ve already taken u back as my wife u don’t get to just dissappear [sic] and block me [it] doesn’t work like that.” |
| In a voice note, he said: “I’m crazy about you. I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re the only woman I want in my life.” | In a voice note, he said: “I’m crazy about you. I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re the only woman I want in my life.” |
| This article was amended on 9 October 2025 to remove some personal information. |