Key facts
- Mohammad Bashir, an associate of the Manchester synagogue attacker, has been jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years.
- Bashir planned a terror attack on a military base with Jihad Al-Shamie, who later killed two men in a synagogue attack.
- Bashir drove Al-Shamie to the UK's Defence Academy for reconnaissance, where Al-Shamie took notes titled 'espionage'.
- WhatsApp messages revealed shared extremist views and discussions of 'violent jihad' between Bashir and Al-Shamie.
- Bashir was arrested upon returning to Manchester Airport after travelling to Pakistan post-synagogue attack.
Mohammad Bashir, an associate of the Manchester synagogue attacker, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 17 years for preparing to commit a terrorist act. Bashir, 31, drove his friend Jihad Al-Shamie on a 10-hour round trip to conduct hostile reconnaissance at the UK's Defence Academy in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, on August 14, 2025. Weeks after this journey, Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead by police after attacking worshippers at Heaton Park Synagogue, killing two Jewish men.
Sentencing Bashir at Manchester Crown Court, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb stated he had become a "firmly committed jihadist" and considered him dangerous, rejecting his claim of having a "change of heart". She noted that Bashir and Al-Shamie were "equally engaged" in planning an attack on a British military target, expecting to "kill and be killed".
Counter-terror police uncovered the pair's friendship and extremist views after reviewing Bashir's phones following the synagogue attack. WhatsApp conversations revealed they frequently made antisemitic remarks and discussed preparing for "war". During the reconnaissance trip, Al-Shamie made notes about security arrangements at the Defence Academy under the title "espionage". Both men disposed of their phones after the trip, but officers accessed cloud data, revealing Al-Shamie had searched for terms like 'weapons, potential target sites, and individuals with links to the Israeli military'. CCTV footage also showed the men discussing attack plans at a mosque.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts of Greater Manchester Police described Bashir as a "dangerous individual" but confirmed there was no evidence he knew about Al-Shamie's specific plans for the synagogue attack. Bashir, who holds both British and Pakistani passports, travelled to Pakistan after the synagogue attack but was arrested at Manchester Airport upon his return. He had pleaded guilty to preparing an act of terrorism, with three other charges of disseminating terrorist publications to lie on file.