Counter terror police also released more details about what happened in the run up to Thursday’s attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue.
In a statement released to the press on Friday, Mr Taylor said: “We have been told from witness accounts that a man was seen acting suspiciously outside the synagogue before he was confronted by security and walked away”.
At the time, the incident was not reported to police. Fifteen minutes later, “the individual returned in a vehicle and began his horrific attack,” Mr Taylor added.
Police are seeking warrants to further detain all six people now in custody, he also said. On Thursday, Greater Manchester Police said three other suspects – two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s – had been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.
Rabbi Daniel Walker was leading prayers when his synagogue was attacked and described seeing “evil and hate” as a man began “body-charging the doors, throwing heavy plant pots, doing whatever he could to get in”.
Praising the quick-thinking of those at the synagogue, he told the BBC: “I saw genuine heroism, I have to say, and people who ran to help others rather than running away. It was astonishing.”
Alan Levy, the synagogue’s chairman of trustees told ITV News, external, he heard Al-Shamie shouting “this is what they get for killing our children”, before “banging his knife into the glass, trying to get through”.
