Man Known to Synagogue Attacker Faces Terror Charges Over Defence Facility Reconnaissance

A North Manchester man, Mohammad Asim Bashir, 31, has been charged with terror-related offenses following allegations he transported the individual behind the recent Heaton Park synagogue attack to survey a United Kingdom defence site. While Bashir was not directly involved in the October synagogue attack, the charges stem from an ongoing investigation.

Mr. Bashir, a British Pakistani resident of Cheetham Hill, faces one count of preparation for acts of terrorism and three counts of dissemination of terrorism publications. Millenium TV has learned that authorities allege Mr. Bashir drove Jihad Al-Shamie to an undisclosed defence facility on August 14 to conduct what is described as hostile reconnaissance. Al-Shamie was fatally shot by police during his assault on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Yom Kippur.

Further allegations against Mr. Bashir include sharing material via WhatsApp with the intent to encourage acts of terrorism. He was initially apprehended shortly after the synagogue attack on suspicion of terror-related activities but was subsequently released without charge. However, he was re-arrested at Manchester Airport on November 27 in connection with the new offenses.

Frank Ferguson of the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that there was sufficient evidence to charge Mr. Bashir with preparing terrorist acts and distributing terrorist publications to Al-Shamie and others. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, who leads Counter Terrorism Policing North West, clarified that these charges are a result of inquiries into the synagogue attack, though they are not directly related to the assault itself. Chief Constable Potts emphasized that the investigation into the synagogue attack remains active.

Mr. Bashir is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.