As investigations continue into the terror attack at a Manchester synagogue, police say they have made three more arrests. They have also confirmed Jihad al Shamie was on police bail for an alleged rape when he carried out the attack. Follow the latest below.Three more arrests made – as police confirm al Shamie was held for rapeLaurence Taylor, the head of counterterror policing in the UK, says three more people have been arrested – taking the total number to six.
“We have now arrested three further people, one man and two women, aged between 18 and mid-40s,” he has just said in an update.
“This brings the number of people in custody arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism to six.”
He adds police will be “seeking warrants of further detention” for all six of them.
He also reveals:
a man was seen “acting suspiciously” outside the synagogue before he was confronted by security and walked away;
authorities do not believe he was reported to police at that time, but he returned 15 minutes later to carry out the attack;
police believe al Shamie may have been influenced by “extreme Islamist ideology” – though establishing the “full circumstances” will “take some time”;
al Shamie does not appear to be known to counterterrorism teams, but he does have a “criminal history” – including a recent arrest for rape, which resulted in him being bailed;
There were a large number of worshippers at the synagogue, but “thanks to the bravery of security staff, worshippers and the fast action of the police”, the attacker did not get in.
