What stands out most in this tragic story is the attacker’s name: “Jihad.” He died at 35 years old, having come to the U.K. as a small child. While we cannot make absolute claims about his parents’ intentions, naming a child “Jihad” in the 1990s—especially in Syria—raises difficult questions.
The Weight of a Name
In Arabic, jihad (جهاد) comes from the root word jahada, meaning “to strive, struggle, or exert effort.” At its broadest, it refers to personal discipline, community service, or defending justice. However, extremist groups have distorted the term to mean “violent holy war.” Historically, rulers and empires used “jihad” as a justification for warfare, and in modern times, suicide bombers and terrorist groups have leaned heavily on the word to sanctify violence.
For that reason, the decision to give a child in Syria the name “Jihad” seems, at best, reckless. Imagine Jihad Al Shamie trying to go to school in Britain, hand in a résumé, or simply introduce himself. Whether or not his parents intended it, the name itself set him apart in ways that made normal integration into civil society extremely difficult. In my view, his parents failed him. Even if he thought the name was “cool” within certain circles, it marked him as an outsider from birth. Parents bear responsibility for preparing their children to thrive—not setting them up to carry such a heavy and controversial label.
The Attack
On Yom Kippur—Judaism’s holiest day—Jihad Al Shamie launched a violent assault outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall. Wearing a fake explosive vest, he drove into people and attacked with a knife. Armed police responded within minutes, killing him seven minutes into the incident. Tragically, in the chaos, one of the victims—Adrian Daulby, 53—was mistakenly shot by officers while they attempted to neutralize Al Shamie.
Two people, Daulby and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were killed in the attack. Several others were injured, three of whom remain hospitalized. Police also arrested three suspects on charges of preparing or assisting terrorism.
Firearms, Training, and Missteps
One element worth noting is that U.K. police officers are not routinely armed, and those who are tend to receive limited training compared to their counterparts in countries where firearms are more common. Handling a live-fire situation with shaky hands, lack of practice, or poor muscle memory can lead to mistakes—as we tragically saw here, when an innocent man lost his life to friendly fire.
Gun control may limit weapon access to criminals, but it can also leave law enforcement under-prepared. Firing a gun is a skill requiring extensive repetition under stress. Many gang members are poor shots because they may only fire a weapon during a crime. Similarly, when police officers receive minimal live-fire training, mistakes in high-stress environments become more likely. This incident is a sobering reminder that over-regulation without adequate training creates vulnerabilities.
Community and Official Response
The Shamie family quickly condemned the attack, calling it a “profound shock.” In a statement, they distanced themselves entirely from Jihad’s actions, expressing sympathy and sorrow for the victims and their families.
Neighbours described him as sometimes quiet, sometimes eccentric—lifting weights in his garden, alternating between jeans and traditional Syrian clothing. None described him as overtly radicalized. Others considered him “odd,” but not dangerous. The Syrian British Consortium reported that no one in its community networks knew him personally.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized that Al Shamie was not on the radar of police or MI5 and had not been referred to Prevent, the government’s anti-radicalization program. She admitted even she was surprised by his name, noting: “As a Muslim, I’ve never heard someone being called Jihad, but it is the name he was born with.”
Broader Lessons
This case raises hard questions about parenting, integration, and the breakdown of man-made systems when tested by crises. Children carry the burden of the names and values their parents give them. Governments, meanwhile, often respond by centralizing control, creating endless regulations. But when those regulations fail—whether in firearms training, counter-terror programs, or cultural assimilation—it is ordinary men and women who suffer most.
As Christians, we must grieve for all the victims, including Jihad Al Shamie. His parents may not have given him a fair chance, but every soul belongs to God. All property, including our very lives, belongs to the Lord. Evil acts will always bring consequences—to us, to our children, and to future generations.
Consider making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today. In Him, there is mercy, justice, and the only true peace this world can never manufacture.