A man has been charged with four terrorism offenses in connection with investigations surrounding the recent attack on the Manchester synagogue, though the charges are not directly related to that incident. Prosecutors from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed Thursday that Mohammad Bashir, 31, was arrested last week and will face serious allegations including the preparation of terrorist acts and sharing materials online intended to encourage terrorism.
Despite his arrest being linked to the attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, Bashir has not been charged for any actions taken during the October 2 incident, which involved a car ramming and knife assault perpetrated by Jihad al-Shamie. Prosecutors stated that evidence is sufficient to bring charges against Bashir for allegedly assisting al-Shamie in conducting “hostile reconnaissance” at a British defense location.
As the investigation unfolds, it has been revealed that seven arrests have been made in relation to the synagogue attack, with Bashir being among them. A 30-year-old man arrested on October 9 for allegedly failing to disclose information under the Terrorism Act is currently on bail, while five others have been released without charge.
The attack that sparked these investigations resulted in the tragic deaths of two individuals as worshippers gathered for Yom Kippur, an important day in the Jewish calendar. Shamie, a Syrian-born British citizen, drove his vehicle towards security personnel and the external barriers of the synagogue, before launching a violent assault while wearing what appeared to be a suicide belt. His actions led to the fatal stabbing of 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, who died from multiple knife wounds. Additionally, 53-year-old Adrian Daulby was shot and killed by police as they responded to the escalating chaos.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts emphasized that the charges against Bashir are not directly related to the attack itself, underscoring the ongoing nature of the investigation into the events that unfolded that day. Bashir is expected to make his first appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where further details of the charges will likely emerge.
