English Nurse Married Manchester Terrorist After Conversion
An English nurse, Elizabeth Davis, 46, married Manchester synagogue attacker Jihad Al-Shamie after converting to Islam, according to reports. This revelation emerged following Al-Shamie’s deadly assault on September 28, 2023, at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, which resulted in two fatalities and several injuries.
Davis, a mother of five, only disclosed her relationship with Al-Shamie to her family after the incident. Relatives expressed their shock upon learning of her connection to the 35-year-old Syrian-born extremist, who was shot dead by police after he drove his vehicle into worshippers and subsequently attacked bystanders with a knife. A source close to Davis mentioned that she converted to Islam four years ago, a decision that reportedly caused rifts with her family. They noted that her demeanor changed significantly following her conversion, leading to a breakdown in familial communication.
The source stated, “It was like she had been brainwashed,” and added that the family learned about the marriage to Al-Shamie only after the synagogue attack. They speculated that the union may have occurred in an Islamic law ceremony. Davis, who lived in Bolton, was employed by the National Health Service, though it remains unclear if she is still active in her role.
As the investigation by Greater Manchester Police continues, authorities have indicated that they are deploying “significant resources” to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the attack. Three individuals remain hospitalized with serious injuries, including a security guard struck by Al-Shamie’s vehicle and a volunteer who suffered stab wounds.
Al-Shamie, who immigrated to the UK as a teenager and became a citizen in 2006, wore what appeared to be a suicide vest during the attack. Investigators later confirmed that the device was not real. The assault resulted in the deaths of two men, identified as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. At least one victim was reportedly struck by police gunfire during the incident.
Sources indicate that Al-Shamie was out on bail for an alleged rape charge at the time of the attack. Reports from the Guardian state that the police were investigating a separate sexual assault case involving him earlier in the year. A police insider noted that while Al-Shamie was not previously known for terrorism, he did have a criminal history.
Additionally, investigators are looking into whether Al-Shamie sent death threats to British politician John Howell in 2012, following Howell’s comments defending Israel’s right to self-defense. The email allegedly signed by Al-Shamie stated, “It is people like you who deserve to die.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood remarked on the unusual nature of Al-Shamie’s name, which is associated with Islamist extremism, confirming it was indeed his birth name. Reports also indicate that Al-Shamie’s father had previously expressed support for Hamas on social media following the group’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths.
In light of these events, Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, visited the synagogue and called for enhanced security for British Jews, noting that some families are considering relocating to Israel amid rising tensions. She stated, “Israel is at war. How can people be leaving the UK to go to a war zone and think that they’ll be safer there?”
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited the site of the attack and urged demonstrators planning to protest in Manchester and London to “respect the grief of British Jews.” Forensic teams have been actively examining multiple locations across Manchester, while armed police maintain a presence outside Jewish institutions across the country to ensure community safety.
