An English mother of five, Elizabeth Davis, has allegedly “married” Jihad al Shami, a man linked to a recent terrorist attack at a synagogue in Manchester. Davis, 46, revealed this relationship to her family only after the attack during Yom Kippur, which left two people dead and several others wounded.
Relatives expressed feeling “terrified” upon discovering that she was involved with a 35-year-old Syrian-born extremist who attacked worshippers and was subsequently shot by police. It seems that before the attack, Davis had converted to Islam about four years ago, which, according to a family source, caused a rift with her loved ones. They noted that she had become distant and had changed significantly since her conversion.
While sources suggested that she might have participated in an Islamic law ceremony to marry Al Shami, it remains unclear whether she still works for the National Health Service, where she was employed.
Authorities have not indicated whether Davis is under any criminal investigation. The Greater Manchester Police mentioned that their anti-terrorism units are actively pursuing the details of the situation. Currently, three individuals are in the hospital with serious injuries from the attack that involved a car and stabbing attacks.
Al Shami, who moved to the UK as a teenager, wore what appeared to be a suicide vest during the attack, although it was later found to be fake. Tragically, two men, identified as Adrian Dowlby and Melvin Kravitz, lost their lives; at least one victim may have been accidentally shot by police in the ensuing chaos.
Before the attack, Al Shami was out on bail for an alleged rape and had previously been under investigation for sexual offenses. While authorities were aware of his criminal history, he was not considered a terrorism risk. Investigators are also exploring whether he had issued death threats to politicians in the past.
In a disturbing note, Conservative MP John Howell revealed that he received a death threat penned by someone using the name “Jihad Alshamie.” Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Shabana Mahmood acknowledged the unusual nature of his name—often associated with Islamic extremism—while confirming it was indeed his birth name.
Al Shami’s father had previously posted a message supporting Hamas following a massacre in Israel, sparking further unease. In response to the tragedy, political leaders have called for increased security for British Jews, with some families even deciding to relocate to Israel amid fears for their safety.
As forensic teams continue their investigations across multiple locations in Manchester, police maintain a heightened presence around Jewish institutions nationwide.
