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Details are gradually surfacing about the background of Jihad Al-Shamie, understood to be a thirty-five-year-old UK national of Syrian origin.

Al-Shamie reportedly came to the UK during his early youth and was granted UK nationality in 2006, at approximately the age of 16.

He lived in the Manchester area of Prestwich, and his family recently issued a statement stating: "We completely dissociate ourselves from this incident and express our profound dismay and grief over what has occurred.

"Our hearts and prayers are with the those affected and their families, and we pray for their fortitude and comfort."

People in Prestwich described Al-Shamie as a fitness devotee who infrequently engaged with his neighbors.

They said he would sometimes dress in casual attire and other times in "traditional" Syrian garments.

What has his relatives say?

Speaking for the Al-Shamie household both domestically and internationally, Faraj Al-Shamie commented: "The news from Manchester concerning the violent act targeting a place of Jewish worship has been a profound shock to us.

"Our family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act, which affected non-combatant individuals.

"We fully distance ourselves from this assault and express our intense astonishment and sorrow over what has happened. Our hearts and sentiments are with the victims and their families, and we pray for their strength and peace.

"We ask that all press organizations respect the privacy of the family during this extremely challenging time and refrain from using this sad occurrence in any manner that does not represent the truth.

"May God shows compassion on the blameless individuals, and we hope for the swift recovery of the wounded."

What did local residents say?

Geoff Haliwell resides close to a house in Langley Crescent, Prestwich, that is thought to be the Al-Shamie family home. It was raided by police officers on Thursday.

Mr Haliwell, 72, explained the dwelling used to be on his window-cleaning round and he knew the wider family "a little", saying they were "pleasant individuals".

"I was taken aback, I felt stunned," he remarked, mentioning that he thought the Al-Shamies relocated to the area about 15 years ago.

He indicated the father had resided there for five or six years but then left the home, subsequently returning in a vehicle with license plates from France.

He said Jihad Al-Shamie would at times wear western clothes and on other occasions traditional Syrian attire. He also said Al-Shamie would use public seats to exercise.

He continued: "I would see him no less than a couple of times a weekly, we just said 'greetings'.

"I was unaware of his name.

"He seemed like a ordinary, ordinary lad, nothing would be noticeable to make you suspect he was anything unusual."

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A different resident remembered a baby also living at the location but could not remember seeing a woman staying there.

She said: "We often observed him outside in the yard exercising, doing weights, press ups.

"He used to change his outfits.

"On one occasion he would be dressed in the full-length robe, reaching the ground and the next jeans and pyjama bottoms."

One more local told the a newspaper: "I identified him from the pictures of the attacker. I recognised his little car, the Kia, because he'd consistently park it badly near our home.

"I observed him strolling in his sleepwear and slip-on sandals, holding a shopping bag.

"He was quite muscular and often stored his exercise weights in his garage. I noticed them there."

"He did not appear to talk to anybody in this vicinity," they concluded.

Was he previously identified by authorities?

Al-Shamie's name has not appeared in preliminary checks of police and security service databases, and he is not thought to have been subject to ongoing scrutiny.

Additional inquiries are in progress to determine if he appears anywhere files of other investigations.

There are reports Al-Shamie was previously employed as a tutor educating in English and coding, and his father is a medical doctor.

The interior minister Shabana Mahmood said she was "taken aback" by the name of the assailant.

Speaking on LBC, Ms Mahmood was asked about the attacker's name, Jihad Al-Shamie, which host Nick Ferrari translated as "conflict related to Syria".

She said: "It was unexpected to discover that name myself.

"Actually, as a follower of Islam, I've never heard anyone being called Jihad, but it is the name that he was given at birth - that has consistently remained his name."