Manchester man admits preparing terror acts with synagogue attacker

A Manchester man has pleaded guilty to preparing terrorist acts, a charge stemming from his involvement with an individual who later carried out a deadly attack on a synagogue. Mohammad Asim Bashir, from Cheetham Hill, admitted to assisting the synagogue attacker, Jihad al-Shamie, by driving him to survey a UK defense facility in August.

During this reconnaissance, Bashir and al-Shamie discussed criteria for potential targets. Counter Terrorism Policing North West head Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts stated that while Bashir is not directly linked to the synagogue attack itself, his actions of conducting hostile reconnaissance alongside a future attacker highlight the seriousness of his involvement. The police welcomed the guilty plea and are anticipating the sentencing, scheduled for July.

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Although not directly linked to the synagogue attack, the fact he conducted hostile reconnaissance alongside a man who would later commit a terrorist attack shows the seriousness of his actions.

Bashir, 32, is expected to be sentenced in late July, with the prosecution taking his guilty plea into consideration. Manchester police have been actively investigating associates of al-Shamie since the Yom Kippur terrorist incident. In that attack, the ISIS supporter drove his vehicle into the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue before stabbing congregants, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to three others. Al-Shamie was killed by responding officers.

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We welcome today’s guilty plea and look ahead to the sentencing, which is due to take place in July.