A mother has shared that the terrorist behind the synagogue attack, Jihad Al-Shamie, asked her to become his ‘second wife’ in secret after they were already married. The killer tied the knot with the woman in an Islamic ceremony, insisting that they could only be together if they were husband and wife. However, he later confessed to having a wife and child in Manchester.
In an exclusive interview, the woman described how she initially thought she was in love but soon realized that Al-Shamie mistreated her emotionally and sexually, continuously deceiving her to protect his hidden life. Messages exchanged between the woman and Al-Shamie, as revealed by the Manchester Evening News, showed a pattern of manipulation and deceit by the attacker.
Al-Shamie, who was fatally shot by armed police following the violent incident at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, had relationships with multiple women and potentially more marriages. The woman, who remains anonymous, met Al-Shamie on the Muslim dating app Muzz, now called Muzmatch, just before Christmas in 2021, and they married a month later.
Their marriage took place through a Nikah ceremony conducted over an online video call due to Covid restrictions. The woman, a practicing Muslim, shared that Al-Shamie, using various aliases on social media, subjected her to coercive and controlling behavior, including sexual assault.
Despite the abusive treatment, the woman did not report the incidents to the authorities at the time. She also disclosed that she suffered a miscarriage of Al-Shamie’s child. Through screenshots of their conversations on Facebook Messenger, she revealed the manipulative and deceitful nature of Al-Shamie, who constantly sought forgiveness as his lies unraveled.
The woman detailed how Al-Shamie’s behavior escalated into abuse and rape, with him making false promises and presenting a façade of care and affection. She highlighted his controlling tactics and how he covered up his marital status by lying about his family and living situation.
Al-Shamie, described as a devout Muslim by the woman, concealed his violent tendencies and extremist views during their time together. The woman recalled the shock of discovering his involvement in the terror attack after seeing his face in the news upon returning from a trip abroad.
Al-Shamie, who obtained British citizenship in 2006, faced accusations of rape while carrying out the heinous attack that claimed the lives of two individuals. Authorities suspect that his actions may have been influenced by radical Islamist beliefs.