An individual believed to be connected to the perpetrator of the Manchester synagogue assault, Jihad Al-Shamie, has been accused of four terrorism-related charges. The Crown Prosecution Service has disclosed that Mohammad Bashir, aged 31, is set to appear in court the following day on allegations of aiding Al-Shamie in the preliminary scouting of a UK defense establishment.
Al-Shamie was fatally shot by armed law enforcement after carrying out a knife and vehicle assault at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in October, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to four others.
Bashir is facing charges of disseminating online material with the intent to incite acts of terrorism. He is scheduled to attend Westminster Magistrates’ Court on the appointed day. The CPS clarified that the support provided by Bashir was not related to the synagogue attack from two months ago.
Frank Ferguson, the Chief Crown Prosecutor of the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, stated, “Today, we have opted to prosecute Mohammad Bashir for terrorism offenses, following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North West into his association with Jihad Al-Shamie.”
Adrian Daulby, aged 53, and Melvin Cravitz, aged 66, both residents of Crumpsall, lost their lives in the tragic incident. Authorities indicated at the time that the attacker might have been influenced by radical Islamist beliefs.
Al-Shamie, reportedly a university dropout, obtained British citizenship in 2006 at around 16 years old, having arrived in the UK as a young child. He was under police bail for rape allegations when he carried out the vehicular and knife attack.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, responsible for Counter Terrorism Policing North West operations, said, “Following the authorization from the CPS, this morning we have formally charged Mohammad Asim Bashir with multiple terrorism offenses, including preparations for terrorist acts.”
Potts emphasized that these charges are not directly linked to the synagogue attack but emerged from investigations by the police team. Bashir has been detained pending his court appearance to face the charges authorized on that day.
The investigation into the attack remains active, with authorities urging anyone with pertinent information to come forward. The community has been thanked for their ongoing cooperation and patience during the investigative process.