A man linked to the terrorist responsible for the deadly attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue has admitted a terrorism offence at court.
Mohammad Asim Bashir, of Shaftesbury Road in Cheetham Hill, appeared at the Central Criminal Court on Friday (June 5) where he pleaded guilty to one count of preparation for acts of terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.
The 31-year-old’s guilty plea comes following a lengthy investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North West into the attack on the synagogue in October 2025, which left two people dead and several others seriously injured.
Investigators established that Bashir was an associate of attacker Jihad Al-Shamie and that the pair had carried out hostile reconnaissance of a UK defence facility on August 14, 2025. Detectives said CCTV footage showed the men discussing potential targets before travelling to the site, with Bashir driving for much of the journey.
Police stressed that Bashir’s offending was not directly linked to the synagogue attack itself, but was uncovered during enquiries into the wider circumstances surrounding the atrocity. Previous court proceedings heard that Bashir had also been accused of disseminating terrorist publications linked to Al-Shamie and others.
A two-day sentencing hearing has now been scheduled at Manchester Crown Court on July 22 and 23. Prosecutors will first consider the basis of Bashir’s guilty plea before sentencing takes place.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, who oversees Counter Terrorism Policing North West operations, welcomed the outcome.
He said: “From the outset of our investigation into the tragic events at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, we have been unwavering in our commitment to establishing the full circumstances behind what happened.
“Our comprehensive enquiries led to the offending of Mohammed Bashir coming to light. Although not directly linked to the synagogue attack, the fact he conducted hostile reconnaissance alongside a man who would later commit a terrorist attack shows the seriousness of his actions.
“We welcome today’s guilty plea and look ahead to the sentencing which is due to take place in July.”
The attack on October 2, 2025, saw Al-Shamie drive into pedestrians before carrying out a knife attack outside the synagogue. Two men died and several others were seriously injured before the attacker was shot dead by police. Counter Terrorism Policing said Al-Shamie had pledged allegiance to Islamic State during the incident.
ACC Potts added that his thoughts remain with those affected by the attack, particularly the families of those who lost their lives and those who suffered serious injuries.
The wider investigation into the events surrounding the attack has involved officers from across the national counter-terrorism network and remains one of the most significant terrorism inquiries conducted in Greater Manchester in recent years.
