Alleged associate of Manchester synagogue attacker appears in court

A man who allegedly drove the Manchester synagogue attacker to survey a UK defence site has appeared in court.

Mohammad Asim Bashir, 31, is accused of driving Jihad Al-Shamie to UK Defence Academy in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, on 14 August for a hostile reconnaissance – seven weeks before the attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue.

He has been charged with four terror offences after he was arrested at Manchester Airport in November.

The allegations are not directly related to the synagogue attack, where two worshippers were killed on 2 October at Yom Kippur services to mark the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Mr Bashir, of Shaftsbury Road, Manchester, appeared at Westminster Magistrates after being charged with one offence of preparation of terrorist acts and three offences of sharing terrorist publications.

Prosecutor Sally-Anne Russell told the court that he and Al-Shamie stopped at the UK Defence Academy for 13 minutes during the trip.

The Crown Prosecution Service also alleges Mr Bashir shared terrorist publications with Al-Shamie and other people on WhatsApp between November and December 2024 with the intent to encourage acts of terrorism.

Mr Bashir appeared in the dock but was not asked to enter any pleas during the short hearing. He has been remanded in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on 12 December.

Worshippers Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were killed after 35-year-old Al-Shamie, a Syrian-born UK citizen, drove his Kia Picanto into the gates of the synagogue and then began attacking with a knife, wearing a fake suicide belt.