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British police said Wednesday that the gunman responsible for the attack on a Manchester synagogue that left two worshipers dead claimed allegiance to a group called Islamic State (IS).
The attacker, Jihad al-Shami, made a phone call to emergency dispatchers during the deadly attack on October 2, pledging allegiance to the terrorist organization, counter-terrorism police said in a statement.
Al-Shamy, 35, was shot dead by police outside the Heaton Park Congregation synagogue after plowing into pedestrians with his car, attacking them with a knife and trying to force his way into the building.
Congregants Melvin Kravitz, 66, and Adrian Dolby, 53, were killed in the attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Police said Dolby and other believers were accidentally shot dead by armed police when they barricaded themselves in the synagogue to prevent al-Shami from entering.
Three other men were hospitalized with serious injuries.
Police said al-Shami was out on bail on a rape charge at the time of the attack, but had not been charged.
Police have arrested three men and three women in Greater Manchester on suspicion of “committing, preparing or inciting an act of terrorism” as they investigate whether the attacker acted alone.
The court on Saturday allowed police to keep the four suspects, two men and two women, in custody for an additional five days.
An 18-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were released without further action, police said.
Police have not identified those arrested or disclosed their relationship to al-Shami.
Additional sources of information β’ AP