UK
Man charged with helping Manchester synagogue attacker scout defence site
Mohammad Asim Bashir, 31, accused of driving Jihad al-Shamie to the UK Defence Academy for a hostile reconnaissance mission
December 5, 2025 14:25
Mohammad Asim Bashir, 31, accused of driving Jihad al-Shamie to the UK Defence Academy for a hostile reconnaissance mission
December 5, 2025 14:25An alleged associate of the Heaton Park synagogue attacker was accused of driving him to survey a UK defence site at a court hearing today.
Mohammad Asim Bashir, 31, has been charged with four terror offences after he was arrested at Manchester Airport on November 27.
The allegations are not directly related to the synagogue attack, in which two worshippers were killed at Yom Kippur services.
Bashir is accused of driving Jihad Al-Shamie to the UK Defence Academy in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, on August 14 for a hostile reconnaissance mission – seven weeks before the attack at Heaton Park synagogue.
Bashir, a British national whose self-defined ethnicity is British-Pakistani, appeared at Westminster Magistrates after being charged with one offence of preparation of terrorist acts and three offences of sharing terrorist publications.
Prosecutor Sally-Anne Russell told the court that he and Al-Shamie stopped at the UK Defence Academy for 13 minutes during the trip.
The Crown Prosecution Service also alleges that Bashir shared terrorist publications with Al-Shamie and other people on WhatsApp between November and December 2024 with the intent to encourage acts of terrorism.
Bashir, of Shaftsbury Road, Manchester, appeared in the dock but was not asked to enter any pleas and was remanded in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on December 12.
Worshippers Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were killed after Al-Shamie, 35, a Syrian-born UK citizen, drove his Kia Picanto into the gates of the synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester.
He then began attacking with a knife, while wearing a fake suicide belt.
Al-Shamie was shot dead by armed police as he carried out his attack.
Three other people were injured and treated in hospital.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, who holds operational responsibility for Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: “Our investigation into the attack remains live and I would continue to appeal to anyone with information that could potentially be of assistance to please come forward.
“I would also like to once again thank members of the community for their continued patience and support as we conduct our enquiries.”
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