A 31-year-old man from Manchester has been charged with four terrorism offences, including allegations he assisted the Heaton Park Synagogue attacker in carrying out 'hostile' reconnaissance of a UK defence facility.
Charges and Allegations
Mohammad Bashir is accused of helping Jihad Al-Shamie conduct surveillance of a defence site before Al-Shamie died in the attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has clarified that the alleged assistance was not directly connected to the synagogue attack itself.
Bashir also faces charges for sharing terrorist publications via a WhatsApp chat group. The material reportedly included documents titled 'Path of Jihad' and 'Virtues of Martyrs', which he is alleged to have distributed with the intent to encourage acts of terrorism.
Legal Proceedings and Official Statements
Bashir is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday morning. He has been remanded in custody for these charges but was released without charge in relation to the actual synagogue attack.
Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, stated: "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."
The charges follow an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North West. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts emphasised: "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."
Ongoing Investigation and Public Appeal
The investigation into the synagogue attack remains active. Authorities continue to appeal for any information from the public that could assist their enquiries, thanking the community for its patience and support.
The CPS and police have issued a strong reminder that legal proceedings against Bashir are now active. They stress the importance of not publishing any commentary or information online that could prejudice his right to a fair trial.
