Manchester police won’t say if Yom Kippur synagogue attacker’s phone was checked during earlier rape probe

Police in Manchester have refused to say if they examined the cellphone of the Yom Kippur synagogue attacker, Jihad Al-Shamie, during an investigation of rape and sexual allegations by two women in the months prior to the terror attack, the Financial Times reports.

The report says there are growing questions as to whether the terror attack, in which two people were killed, could have been prevented.

The newspaper notes that one of Shamie’s associates was charged earlier this month with sharing terror materials in a WhatsApp group.

Two men died in the attack by Shamie, which came as worshipers gathered for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

He launched the assault by driving his car at security staff and the external gates of the Manchester synagogue.

Wearing a fake suicide belt, he then stabbed Melvin Cravitz, 66, to death and tried to storm the site before police shot him dead.

Adrian Daulby, 53, died from a single gunshot wound to the chest fired by a police officer responding to the situation.

Agencies contributed to this report.