Mohammad Asim Bashir, from Cheetham Hill, is due to appear in court on Friday
15:07, 04 Dec 2025Updated 15:57, 04 Dec 2025
Synagogue attacker Jihad Al-Shamie(Image: Submitted)
A man arrested in connection with the Manchester synagogue attack has been charged with four terrorism offences, police have said. Mohammad Asim Bashir, 31 and from Cheetham Hill, Manchester, is due to appear in court in London on Friday.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it’s alleged Bashir assisted synagogue terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie with an earlier ‘hostile reconnaissance of a UK defence facility’ by driving him there. The facility hasn’t been identified.
He’s also accused of sharing material online with intent to encourage acts of terrorism. Those charges relate to Bashir allegedly transmitting the contents of terrorist publications to a WhatsApp chat group, the CPS added.
The publications have been named by the CPS as ‘The Book of Jihad’ – said to be a series of lectures – a video called ‘Obstacles in the Path of Jihad’ and a video called ‘Virtues of Martyrs’.
Bashir was arrested on November 27 at Manchester Airport then held on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism in relation to the attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on October 2.
In an update issued on Thursday, Counter-Terrorism Policing North West said he’s been charged with a single count of preparation for acts of terrorism and three counts of dissemination of terrorist publications.
Jihad Al-Shamie(Image: Facebook)
In a statement, police said the charges weren’t ‘directly linked’ to the synagogue terrorist attack, but have been laid as a result of enquiries relating to it. Bashir, of Shaftesbury Road, Cheetham Hill, has been remanded to appear before Westminster Magistrates Court tomorrow, Friday, December 5.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it’s alleged ‘associate’ Bashir assisted Jihan Al-Shamie with a ‘hostile reconnaissance of a UK defence facility’.
In a statement, Counter-Terrorism Policing North West said: “Bashir, who is a British national whose self-defined ethnicity is British Pakistani, was arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism in relation to the attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Thursday 2 October. He has been released without charge in relation to this.”
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, who holds operational responsibility for Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: “Following charging authority being granted by the CPS, this morning we have charged Mohammad Asim Bashir with a number of terrorism offences, including preparation for acts of terrorism
“These charges aren’t directly linked to the terrorist attack which took place at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue but have come as a result of enquiries conducted by our investigation team.
Police at the scene of the synagogue attack(Image: PA)
“Bashir has been released without charge in relation to the terrorist attack. However, he has been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court tomorrow to face the charges authorised today.
“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.”
Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor of the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said the charges brought against Bashir followed the police investigation ‘into his conduct linked to Jihad Al-Shamie’.
Syrian-born Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead by armed police outside the synagogue in Crumpsall. He got out of a car outside the synagogue with a knife and stabbed worshipper Melvin Cravitz, 66, who sadly died later in hospital. Adrian Daulby, 53, also lost his life in the attack after he was hit by a police bullet as the officers tried to subdue Al-Shamie.
Mr Ferguson said: “Today, we have decided to prosecute Mohammad Bashir with terrorism offences – following a Counter Terrorism Policing North West investigation into his conduct linked to Jihad Al-Shamie.
“Our prosecutors have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to charge Mohammad Bashir with one offence of preparation of terrorist acts and three offences of sharing terrorist publications with Al-Shamie and others with the intent to encourage acts of terrorism.
“We have worked closely with Counter Terrorism Policing North West as they carried out their investigation.” No further details have been given.