Man charged with terror offences after Manchester synagogue attack

A man has been charged with terrorism offenses after allegedly driving the Manchester synagogue attacker to investigate a defense facility in England.

Mohammed Asim Bashir, 31, of Cheetham Hill, north Manchester, was charged with one count of preparation for terrorist acts and three counts of disseminating terrorist-related literature.

Jihad Al-Shamie was shot dead by police during an attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

Mr Bashir, who Manchester Police said was a British Pakistani, was known to have attacked Al-Shamie but was not directly involved in the October 2 attack.

Mr. Bashir allegedly took Al-Shamie to an unnamed defense facility on August 14 to conduct hostile reconnaissance.

A lawsuit will also be filed for allegedly sharing material via WhatsApp with the aim of encouraging terrorist acts.

Police arrested Mr. Bashir immediately after the synagogue attack on suspicion of committing, preparing and inciting terrorist acts, but he was released without charge.

Officers later arrested him again at Manchester Airport on November 27 for the new offences.

Frank Ferguson, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said there was sufficient evidence to charge Bashir with one count of preparation for terrorist acts and three counts of sharing terrorist broadcasts with Al-Shamie and others to encourage terrorist acts.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, who has operational responsibility for North West Counter Terrorism Policing, said the charges were not directly related to the synagogue attack but were “a result of investigations carried out by our investigation team”.

Chief Constable Potts said the investigation into the attack “remains open” and urged anyone with information about the attack to come forward.

Mr Bashir will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.