"Significant development in the investigation": Another suspect arrested in the Manchester synagogue attack case
The Counter Terrorism Policing North West unit has arrested an eighth suspect in the Manchester synagogue attack case. Hekmat Omar Ali Hakim, a 49-year-old Iraqi national, was arrested on suspicion of failing to disclose information about terrorist activity and will appear in a London court. Police described this as a significant development in the investigation.
The Counter Terrorism Policing North West unit announced the arrest of an eighth suspect in the case of the attack on the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester, which occurred on the morning of Yom Kippur, October 2, 2025. The suspect, Hekmat Omar Ali Hakim, 49, an Iraqi national residing in the Manchester area, was arrested yesterday (Thursday) on suspicion of an offense of failing to disclose information related to terrorist activity, under the UK Terrorism Act. Today he will be brought before Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. The police emphasize that the charge is directly related to the attack. At this stage, the authorities are not detailing what information Hakim is alleged to have had, when he learned of it, or the nature of his connection to the attacker. Hakim was previously arrested on May 26 of this year, released on bail, and has now been charged after approximately three additional months of investigation and with the approval of the prosecution. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts described the charge as a "significant development in the investigation" and said investigators continue to work to "establish the full picture" behind the attack. The attack itself occurred when the attacker, Jihad al-Shami, drove a car towards the synagogue, struck people, then emerged armed with a knife and a fake explosive belt. Two worshippers were killed: Melvin Kravitz, 66, who was stabbed to death, and Adrian Daulby, 53, who was killed by a stray bullet fired by a police officer. Three others were seriously injured and have since been released.