Jihad Al-Shamie was arrested on suspicion of rape and on police bail at the time he launched a deadly knife and car attack on a Manchester synagogue, police have said.
Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz were killed in the attack on Thursday, while three people remain in hospital.
Police believe that Al-Shamie may have been influenced by “extreme Islamist ideology” and said three more people, between 18 and mid-40s, had been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.
On Friday, families of the dead men paid tribute to their loved ones, hailing them as heroes who died saving others.