The father of the Manchester synagogue attacker praised the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks in a series of disturbing Facebook posts.
Faraj Al-Shamie commended the deadly assault on Israel where nearly 1,200 individuals lost their lives, and about 250 were abducted.
On October 7, 2023, this trauma surgeon, originally from Syria and now in the UK, encouraged Hamas militants to ‘maintain their weapons well and target accurately for their comrades’ soon after the militants launched their brutal siege of Israel.
In an Arabic Facebook post, he remarked that the visuals of ‘fighters entering’ Israel on paragliders and motorcycles ‘confirm unmistakably’ that Israel would falter.
On the day of the terror assault on October 7, Mr. Al-Shami wrote: ‘Such men demonstrate they are the divine people on earth, and irrespective of their leaders, they are the true guideposts of men assured of their triumph.
‘Oh warriors of Allah (…) maintain your weaponry well and target accurately for your brethren (…) may God shield Palestine and its valiant populace.’
He also expressed support for the Iranian missile attacks on Israel, which killed dozens of innocent civilians, writing: ‘we are waiting for more’.
Earlier today, Mr. Al-Shamie released a statement voicing his ‘deep shock’ after his eldest son, Jihad Al-Shamie, aged 35, drove his car into Jewish worshippers at Heaton Park synagogue during Yom Kippur, Judaism’s most sacred day, proceeding to stab other attendees.
Two Jewish men – Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, – were murdered in the attack and three others were seriously injured.
Meanwhile Jihad Al-Shamie was shot dead by armed police.
Faraj Al-Shamie celebrated and praised the murderous invasion of Israel during which almost 1,200 people were killed and around 250 people were taken hostage.
On Facebook the killer’s father tried to distance himself and his family from the attack, writing: ‘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.’
He added: ‘We kindly request that all media outlets respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time and refrain from using this tragic event in any context that does not reflect the truth.’
But in the last two years Mr Al-Shamie, who arrived in the UK from Syria in the 1990s, has written frequently about the war in Gaza and even attended a pro-Palestine protest in Manchester on 31 August 2025.
On the day of the October 7 terror attacks, Mr Al-Shamie wrote: ‘The scenes broadcasted by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (Hamas) of a group of fighters storming the camp of the occupation army with simple means, [paragliders] and motorcycles, prove beyond doubt that Israel will eventually be destroyed.
‘Men like these prove that they are men of God on earth and regardless of who leads them, they are the real compass of men who are confident of their victory.
‘Oh men of Allah (…) take good care of your weapons and aim them accurately for your brothers (…) may God protect Palestine and its heroic people.’
Then, three days after Hamas’ devastating terror attack on Israel, Mr Al-Shamie appeared to question why other Arab nations weren’t supporting the attacks against the Jewish state.
In a social media post he wrote: ‘Where is the so-called resistance with the Haifa rockets (…) May G-d’s curse be upon the hypocrites and the traitors indulging in a disgusting and dirty sectarian agenda.
‘The moment of truth is inevitably coming.
‘You told me [about the] Haifa rockets.
‘Our brothers in Palestine are publicly asking for help from anyone who still has part of honour or humanity left.
‘But with Allah’s permission they will be victorious oh you who sell your religion, your honour, and your humanity to the mullahs of Tehran (…) long live the brave men of Gaza #Palestine_is_Arab’.
He also shared a picture of an elderly female hostage alongside the caption: ‘Release the elderly and children.
‘What you [Hamas] have done so far is a miracle by all standards. Do not harm them in a moment of anger. They have no place in war.
But then – expressing his support for Hamas’ plans – he wrote: ‘May God grant you victory, support you, and guide you to the right path in a battle that history will record as the beginning of the liberation of Al-Aqsa, God willing.’
Faraj Al-Shamie arrived in the UK from Syria in the 1990s.
He settled in north Manchester which is home to a large Jewish population.
Mr Al-Shamie, who qualified as a trauma surgeon in the UK, is believed to be working overseas currently.
