SerpApi.Org
The Manchester synagogue attacker met an accomplice in a mosque to discuss their future plans, the Old Bailey heard.
Jihad al-Shamie, who was shot dead by police after targeting the Heaton Park synagogue on Oct 2, met Mohammad Bashir at the Al-Sunnah Mosque in Cheetham Hill two months earlier.
The duo sat at the back of the mosque on Aug 8 2025 believing, “erroneously as it transpired”, that their activities would not be captured on camera or that their conversations would be heard.
The next day, they were seen talking 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 said: “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.”
Referring to notions of martyrdom, Bashir replies: “This is like, this time next year, we will be in green birds.”
Bashir, 31, drove with al-Shamie on a 10-hour round trip to conduct hostile reconnaissance of the MoD Defence Academy in Shrivenham, Swindon, on Aug 14 last year before they disposed of their mobile phones, the court was told.
The academy provides professional defence and security education to the British Armed Forces, wider UK government, British industry and overseas staff. Routinely, there will be up to 4,000 staff, contractors, students and visitors on site at any given time.
Last month, Manchester-born Bashir, who holds a British and Pakistani passport, pleaded guilty to the preparation of terrorist acts. He had no previous convictions and was in court for the start of his two-day sentencing hearing.
Jonathan Polnay KC, prosecuting, said: “The prosecution case is that Mohammad Bashir is a long-standing, committed jihadist.
“The attack that was being planned was of the sort that Jihad al-Shamie in fact carried out on Oct 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.”
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 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 Sept 22 for “Yom Kippur massacre of nature”.
Prosecutors said there was no evidence to suggest Bashir was involved in the planning of the attack at Heaton Park.
The sentencing hearing continues.
