Wife of synagogue attacker says he showed no signs of extremism

Jihad al-Shamie pledged allegiance to Islamic State in a 999 call during the attack but he was not known to counter-terrorism officers. Photograph: Handout

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.