A man who carried out surveillance of a military base and plotted alongside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue attacker has been given a life sentence after pleading guilty to a terrorism offence.
Mohammad Asim Bashir, 31, of Shaftesbury Road, Cheetham Hill, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, July 23.
He will serve a minimum of 17 years, with time already served meaning 16 years and 135 days remain on his minimum term.
Bashir was found to have conducted hostile reconnaissance of the UK Defence Academy in Shrivenham alongside Jihad Al Shamie, who later attacked the synagogue in October 2025.
Al Shamie, who killed two men and injured several others when he attacked the Crumpsall synagogue last year, was shot dead by armed police shortly after they arrived at the scene.
The prosecution described Bashir during sentencing as a “long-standing, committed jihadist".
He pleaded guilty last month to one count of preparation for acts of terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.
The investigation began after the synagogue attack, with Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) leading a large-scale inquiry supported by the national CTP network.
Officers reviewed phones belonging to Al Shamie and identified Bashir as a close associate who also held extremist views.
WhatsApp messages between the two men revealed that they discussed preparing for “war” and made frequent antisemitic remarks.
Investigators discovered the pair took a 10-hour round trip to the Defence Academy on August 14, 2025, where they carried out reconnaissance.
Bashir drove for most of the journey while Al Shamie took notes about the base’s security on his phone, which he labelled “espionage.”
Both men later disposed of the phones used to conduct their research and make notes, but investigators accessed cloud data linked to Al Shamie’s devices.
This revealed internet searches for weapons, potential target sites, and individuals with links to the Israeli military.
CCTV and audio evidence also captured the pair talking about plans for an attack.
Rob Potts, assistant chief constable for Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: "Mohammed Bashir is a dangerous individual with extremist views who held conversations about preparing for 'war.'
"He was caught on camera discussing carrying out a terrorist attack with a man who would later go on to conduct an attack himself.
"Together they made a ten-hour round trip to conduct hostile reconnaissance at a military base and noted its security arrangements.
"The pair tried to cover their tracks by disposing of their mobile phones but, thanks to the meticulous work of investigators, evidence of damning internet searches that show research for attack planning was uncovered.
"Bashir is now facing the consequences of his actions, and I hope his sentence will act as a deterrent to anybody considering taking part in extremist activity."
Mr Potts said there was no evidence that Bashir knew in advance about the synagogue attack.
He said: "Although there is no evidence to suggest that Bashir knew in advance about plans to conduct a terrorist attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, I know today’s sentencing will prompt public discussion on that incident.
"My thoughts today are with all those affected by the attack, particularly the loved ones of those whose lives were taken and those who were seriously injured.
"They have been at the forefront of our minds throughout the investigation and will continue to be so."
Bashir will also be subject to a serious crime prevention order for five years and part 4 notification requirements under the Terrorism Act should he be released from prison.
