**Knife Rampage at Manchester Synagogue: Family Responds** The family of Jihad Al-Shamie, the man who carried out a knife attack at a synagogue in north Manchester, has issued a statement condemning his actions. Al-Shamie, 35, was identified as the attacker who drove into a group of people outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Thursday morning, coinciding with Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day. The incident resulted in the deaths of two men, Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, while three others remain in hospital with serious injuries. Greater Manchester Police reported that Al-Shamie was shot dead by officers just seven minutes after they were alerted to the attack. In their statement, the Al-Shamie family expressed their shock and sorrow over the incident, labelling it a "heinous act". They stated, "The news from Manchester regarding the terrorist attack targeting a Jewish synagogue has been a profound shock to us. The Al-Shamie family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act, which targeted peaceful, innocent civilians. We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened. Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we pray for their strength and comfort. May God have mercy on the innocent victims, and we pray for the swift recovery of the injured." Al-Shamie is believed to have entered the UK as a child and was granted British citizenship in 2006. Initial police and security service records do not indicate any prior investigations into him. Neighbours described Al-Shamie as a reclusive figure who had lived in the area since around 2021. One woman noted, "We used to see him out in the garden working out, doing weights, press ups. He used to change his clothes. One day he would be wearing the full gown, to the floor and the next jeans and pyjama bottoms." Another neighbour recognised him from photographs of the attacker, stating, "He lived there 10 years, with no wife or kids that I could see. He never seemed to speak to anyone around here." Reports indicate that Al-Shamie worked as a tutor, teaching English and computer programming, and that his father is a surgeon. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed her surprise at the attacker's name during an interview, stating, "I was very surprised to discover that name myself. Actually, as a Muslim, I’ve never heard someone being called Jihad, but it is the name that he was born with – that has always been his name." The investigation into the attack continues as the community grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event.