Friend of Manchester synagogue attacker jailed for life over MoD terror plan
Mohammad Bashir and Jihad Al-Shamie were plotting an attack on the UK’s Defence Academy
Last updated 19 hours ago
A man who planned a terror attack with his friend who went on a fatal knife rampage at a Manchester synagogue less than two months later has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years.
Manchester Crown Court heard Mohammad Bashir, 31, drove Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, on a 10-hour round trip to conduct hostile reconnaissance at the UK’s Defence Academy in Shrivenham near Swindon, on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire border on August 14 last year.
On October 2, two men were killed in a separate incident as worshippers gathered at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue to mark Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews.
Syrian-born UK citizen Al-Shamie, who wore a fake suicide belt, was shot dead by police outside the building.
They shared an extremist world view
Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay KC said:
“The attack that was being planned was of the sort that Jihad Al-Shamie in fact carried out on October 2, an attack involving weapons that would cause multiple fatalities and have national and international impact.
“Analysis of Bashir and Al-Shamie’s messages to each other demonstrated they were both close associates and both shared an extremist worldview.
“They were both interested in, and regularly discussed, violent jihad.”
Last month, Bashir, of Shaftesbury Road, Cheetham, pleaded guilty to the preparation of terrorist acts.
Manchester-born Bashir, who also holds a Pakistani passport, has no previous convictions.
Bashir was arrested at Manchester Airport on November 27 but was not charged in relation to the synagogue attack.
MoD Shrivenham is the home of the UK Defence Academy, the court heard, which provides professional defence and security education to the British Armed Forces, wider UK government, UK industry and overseas personnel.
Routinely, there will be up to 4,000 staff, contractors, students and visitors on site at any given time.
Caught on CCTV discussing weapons and a 'mission'
CCTV footage of the two men at the Al-Sunnah Mosque in Cheetham Hill also formed a key part of the prosecution case, the court heard.
On August 8, the pair sat at the back of the mosque believing, “erroneously as it transpired”, that their activities would not be captured on camera or that their conversations would be heard.
The next day, the pair were captured talking alone together in the main prayer room, where Al-Shamie was heard to say: “I wish we had a weapon. We need to get one. Crossbow. Is there a way for us to go in?”
Later in the same conversation, Bashir says: “You got me really excited.”
Al-Shamie replies: “Once we go there, we’re not coming back. Once we go to the mission.
“Prepare to say bye to loved ones, any last debts we could pay off or any fines.”
As they exit the mosque, Al-Shamie says: “It’s exciting.”
Bashir replies: “This is like, this time next year, we will be in green birds.”
Mr Polnay said a terrorism expert had noted that in Islamic literature, the “green birds of paradise are intimately linked to notions of martyrdom”.
The Crown said that Al-Shamie’s Picanto stopped at the MoD base on the late morning of August 14 for approximately 15 minutes.
Around that time, Al-Shamie made an entry in his iPhone notes entitled “Espionage”, which read: “Walk in, there’s a desk from one side to the other, two old women sat there.
“Behind them is a corridor. Either side are two rooms open. Women coming in and out at the back of building there’s a door that leads to a search bay.”
Mr Polnay said: “This is plainly a description of the reception area of the Defence Academy.”
On August 15, the pair met up at the Al Sunnah mosque and later sat together in the Picanto in the car park.
While in the vehicle, Al-Shamie made numerous internet searches including “defence academy swindon”, “uk military blue uniform” and “suicide vest fancy dress”.
The Crown said there was no evidence to suggest Bashir was involved in the planning of the attack at Heaton Park.
However prosecutors said Bashir and Al-Shamie were motivated by their anti-Semitic views in targeting the defence base, and that Al-Shamie had made several internet searches for IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers training in Britain.
From late August the attentions of Al-Shamie appeared to turn to the Heaton Park synagogue, the court was told, with searches relating to that location and people associated with it such as local rabbis.
He also looked online for meat cleavers and “travel bags for them”, followed by a search on September 22 for “yom kippur massacre of nature”.
Al-Shamie went on to stab one man to death at the Heaton Park synagogue and injured three others, the court heard, while a stray bullet from police struck and killed another man.
Police admit missed opportunity to stop the Synagogue attack
The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police has apologised after admitting the phones of the Manchester synagogue terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie were seized upon his arrest prior to the attack but not examined.
In a statement, Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said this was a “missed opportunity” to uncover evidence of his “extremist mindset” before he went on a knife rampage at Heaton Park synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, on October 2 last year.
Al-Shamie, 35, who was on bail at the time for an alleged rape, was shot dead by police as he targeted the place of worship on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Sir Stephen said: “In conducting an internal review, it became apparent that GMP had seized Al-Shamie’s mobile devices, at the point of each arrest. The significance of the data contents of these devices was substantial in respect of evidencing an extremist mindset.
“Regrettably, I can confirm that the significance of the information stored on Al-Shamie’s devices was not realised as they had not been examined before the attack took place on the 2nd of October 2025. It is for the IOPC and the Coronial Inquests to determine the impact of not reviewing the contents of the devices.
“There can however, be little doubt that the information contained within these devices would have inspired further investigative action. It is clear that our not having reviewed the data available to us prior to the attack constitutes a missed opportunity.
“I am disappointed at the prospect of adding to the distress of all of those affected by the terrible events last October. For this, I am deeply sorry.”