Iraqi national charged over Manchester synagogue attack disclosure

A 49-year-old Iraqi national has been charged with failing to disclose information about terrorist activity in connection with a deadly attack at a Manchester synagogue last year. Hekmat Omar Ali Hakim, from Higher Broughton, Salford, was charged on August 20, 2026, and remanded into custody. He is scheduled to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 21.

The charge relates directly to the attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Yom Kippur, October 2, 2025. On that day, Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old Syrian-born British citizen, drove his car into the synagogue's gates, injuring a security guard, before launching a knife attack on worshippers. Two men, Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed. Daulby died from a bullet wound fired by police as he held doors closed to prevent the attacker from entering further. Three other men sustained serious injuries and were hospitalized. Al-Shamie, who was wearing a fake suicide vest, was shot dead by police at the scene.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts of Counter Terrorism Policing North West described the charge against Hakim as a "significant development." He confirmed the charge is...