Extra time has been given to police to continue questioning the four people arrested over the terror attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall.
The shocking knife and car attack, which took place last Thursday 2 October on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar at the the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, saw two men sadly lose their lives – Adrian Daulby, 53, who is believed to have been shot dead by police while trying to stop the attacker from entering the synagogue, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, a worshipper who also helped stop the attacker.
The attacker has been named as 35-year-old Jihad al Shamie – a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent who lived in Prestwich – who at the time was on bail for an alleged rape, before being shot by police.
Three other men also still remain in hospital at this time.
#UPDATE | Latest statement from Counter Terrorism Policing following the terrorist attack in Crumpsall as our investigation continues.
We would continue to ask that anybody with information please share that with us directly.
The ongoing investigation is being led by Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW), supported by resources from across the national Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) network and Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
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Police say ‘significant resources’ from across CTP have been ‘mobilised’ in order to establish the full picture into what happened.
This past Friday, the head of counter-terrorism policing, Laurence Taylor, gave an update on the investigation declaring that a ‘suspicious device’ attached to al Shamie’s torso was fake, and that police believed he ‘may have been influenced by extreme Islamist ideology’.
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With the investigation said to be ‘continuing at pace’, GMP has now been given extra time to question four individuals currently in police custody.
The warrants relate to – which relate to two men, aged 30 and 32, and two women, aged 46 and 61 – have ben extended after their arrests on suspicion of commission, preparation, and instigation of acts of terrorism.
This means they can remain in custody for up to a further five days from the point that warrant was granted (Saturday 4 October).
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“We understand there is significant public interest in this case, and appreciate many who may have known or had previous contact with Jihad Al-Shamie will be coming to terms with the fact this horrifying attack has been perpetrated by somebody they recognise,” GMP said in a statement.
Appealing to the public, the police continued: “We would also ask people to refrain from speculation or sharing unverified information as that could potentially cause unnecessary delays in our enquiries and additional upset for all those impacted by these horrific events.
Read more:
If you have information, then please contact police via the Major Incident Public Portal which is available online here.
Featured Image – GMP
Crime
‘Disgraceful’ Manchester sex offender jailed after messaging several young girls under 16
Emily Sergeant
A sex offender from Manchester has been charged with 35 offences, including messaging several young girls while on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
William Howarth, from the Miles Platting area of Manchester, appeared at Manchester Crown Court this week where he was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison – with a further six years on licence.
The 23-year-old’s sentencing follows an investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT) after Howarth was found to be in possession of an unregistered mobile phone in a visit from his offender manager in 2023.
Howarth was subject to routine checks due to him being an already-registered sex offender managed by GMP through a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and it was here where he had to register his mobile device and hand it over to his offender manager from our Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) during home visits.
After Howarth’s phone was seized by police, forensic analysis revealed a number of messages were sent to several young girls under the age 16.
#JAILED | On Thursday at Manchester Crown Court, William Howarth (28/7/2002), of Miles Platting, was sentenced to 15 years & 8 months with a further 6 years on licence – after previously pleading guilty to the 35 offences involving messaging young girls pic.twitter.com/HrYKCVay2l
An investigation was immediately launched, and with the help of police forces across the country, GMP managed to trace the children Howarth had been in communication with – who ‘bravely’ agreed to give their accounts.
Police say Howarth displayed ‘controlling’ behaviour over the children he had been in contact with, not allowing them to refuse his requests.
When the children attempted to make a stand and refuse to send further images to him, Howarth would threaten them by stating if they didn’t do as he asked, he would post their images online.
In a hearing at Manchester Crown Court last week (10 November 2025), Howarth pleaded guilty to the following 35 offences – including 11 counts of breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and possession and making of indecent images of children.
Speaking following Howarth’s sentencing, Detective Constable Joshua Cresswell, from GMP’s Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT), commented: “I’d like to thank the brave child victims in supporting our investigating through agreeing to give us their harrowing accounts of how Howarth came in contact with them.
“Howarth is a disgraceful predator and belongs behind bars away from causing further harm to children.”
DC Cresswell then spoke directly to child victims of sexual abuse to encourage them to come forward and report it to police.
“We are here to listen to you, and we will believe you no matter the passage of time. We can work at a pace that you are comfortable with.”
Featured Image – GMP
Crime
Rochdale man jailed for 16 years after killing another man at a New Year’s Eve party
Emily Sergeant
A man from Rochdale has been handed a lengthy jail sentence after killing another man at a New Year’s Eve house party.
Hassan Suliman, of Rothesay Terrace in Rochdale, appeared at Manchester Crown Court last week after previously being found guilty of the manslaughter.
His sentencing comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance on Essex Street in Rochdale in the early hours of New Year’s Day (1 January 2025), and upon arrival, officers found a man with multiple stab wounds.
Despite the best efforts of all emergency service workers, the man was sadly pronounced dead at hospital soon after.
The victim was later named as 38-year-old Alberto Ursu.
GMP’s Major Incident Team launched an investigation immediately after, which subsequently revealed that Hassan Suliman had been involved in a confrontation with Mr Ursu – which both of the men were left injured during.
#JAILED | A man has been jailed following the death of a man after a New Year's party in Rochdale.
Suliman fled the scene following the confrontation, but was found by officers collapsed nearby a short while after.
Forensic analysis by officers later linked the weapons to both Suliman and Mr Ursu.
Following a six-week trial at Manchester Crown Court in September, Suliman was convicted of manslaughter, but was found not guilty of all other charges, and then last Friday (14 November), he was sentenced to 16 years – ordered to serve a minimum of 13 years in prison, with a further three years on licence.
Speaking following Suliman’s sentencing last week, Detective Sergeant Helen Hitchen, from GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “This was meant to be a happy night celebrating the New Year, but sadly ended in the tragic loss of a life.
“This case just goes to show the devastating consequences of knife crime and its lasting impacts on lives.
“A man lost his life and will never return to his family.
“Suliman is now serving time behind bars for his actions that night, and I do hope that this sentence brings some measure of closure to Alberto’s family.”
Emily Sergeant -
6th October 2025 
