The Manchester synagogue terrorist made a call to police during the attack where he pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State, police say.
Jihad al Shamie, 35, carried out the attack last Thursday as he tried to get inside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall.
In a statement, Counter Terrorism Policing North West said that minutes after the first call was made during the attack, al Shamie called 999 himself.
The force said that during the call, he claimed responsibility for the attack and “pledged allegiance to Islamic State”.
Two people were killed during the car and knife attack, while al Shamie was shot dead by police at the scene. Three other people remain in hospital.
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Guard describes confronting killer
Adrian Daulby, 53, is believed to have been shot dead by police while attempting to prevent al Shamie entering the synagogue.
He was killed together with Melvin Cravitz, 66, from Crumpsall, a worshipper who helped prevent the attacker from getting into the premises.
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Four arrested will be ‘released without charge’
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said that since the attack, counter-terror police have arrested and interviewed six people.
He said two were released without charge on Sunday, and the remaining four will be released without charge on Wednesday evening, before adding “this does not mean our investigation has concluded”.
ACC Potts then said that eyewitnesses reported that al Shamie was seen acting suspiciously outside the synagogue before he was confronted by security.
Around 15 minutes later, he returned in a vehicle and deliberately drove at members of the public.
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Al Shamie never referred to Prevent, police say
The police officer added that al Shamie had a second knife on him during the attack, and was wearing a hoax explosive device.
ACC Potts also said al Shamie had never been referred to the anti-terrorism Prevent programme, and was not otherwise known to counter-terror police.
“At this stage of our investigation,” he added, “we are more confident that he was influenced by extreme Islamist ideology,” before noting that the 999 call “forms part of this assessment”.
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A spokesperson for Counter Terrorism Policing North West said on Wednesday: “We can confirm that, in the initial stages of the attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, a call was made by the attacker to police claiming to pledge allegiance to the so-called Islamic State.
“We are continuing to investigate the full circumstances and motivation behind what happened. The investigation is continuing at pace.”
