Mohammad Asim Bashi rwill serve a minimum of 17 years, which includes the time already spent remanded in custody, so the remaining time is 16 years and 135 days. He 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.
He pleaded guilty last month to one count of preparation for acts of terrorism (Section 5, Terrorism Act 2006).
Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) launched an investigation after the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in October 2025.
Investigators reviewed phones belonging to the attacker Jihad Al Shamie and identified that Bashir was a close associate who also held extremist views. WhatsApp conversations between the pair discussed preparing for “war” and they frequently made antisemitic remarks.
It was discovered that the duo had made a ten-hour round trip to conduct hostile reconnaissance of the UK Defence Academy in Shrivenham on 14 August 2025. Bashir was the driver and Al Shamie made notes on security arrangements.
They disposed of the phones they had used for research, but cloud data for a number of mobile phones linked to Al Shamie revealed internet searches for weapons, potential target sites, and individuals with links to the Israeli military.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, who holds operational responsibility 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 it’s 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 were 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."
