A British national has been charged with terrorism offences for allegedly assisting the man who carried out a fatal attack on a Manchester synagogue with earlier reconnaissance.
Charges Authorised by CPS
The Crown Prosecution Service announced on Thursday that Mohammad Bashir, 31, faces four terrorism charges. These include one count of preparation of terrorist acts and three counts of sharing terrorist publications online with the intent to encourage terrorism.
Chief Crown Prosecutor Frank Ferguson stated that prosecutors concluded there is sufficient evidence to bring the charges following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North West. The charges relate to Bashir's alleged conduct linked to Jihad Al-Shamie, the perpetrator of the Heaton Park synagogue attack.
Separate from Fatal Synagogue Attack
Authorities have been clear that the assistance Bashir is alleged to have provided was not in connection with the attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Crumpsall, Manchester, on October 2.
During that attack, 35-year-old Syrian-born UK citizen Jihad Al-Shamie drove a Kia Picanto into the synagogue gates before attacking worshippers with a knife while wearing a fake suicide belt. Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were killed before armed police shot Al-Shamie dead.
Arrest and Court Appearance
Mohammad Bashir, who police describe as having a self-defined ethnicity of British Pakistani, was arrested at Manchester Airport on November 27. He has been released without charge in relation to the synagogue attack itself.
However, he has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday to face the terrorism charges authorised by the CPS.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, of Counter Terrorism Policing North West, emphasised that the investigation into the synagogue attack remains active. He renewed an appeal for anyone with information to come forward.
