Alleged associate of synagogue attacker faces trial
Elizabeth Cook/PA WireAn alleged associate of Manchester synagogue attacker Jihad Al-Shamie is to face trial accused of driving him to survey the UK's Defence Academy to carry out hostile reconnaissance.
Mohammad Bashir, 31, of Shaftsbury Road, Manchester, appeared by videolink at the Old Bailey earlier charged with four terrorism offences.
He spoke only to confirm his personal details at the preliminary hearing.
He is charged with preparation of terrorist acts and three counts of disseminating terrorist publications on WhatsApp on dates in November and December 2024.
Mr Bashir was told that his four-week trial has been provisionally fixed to begin on 6 July at Manchester Crown Court.
He is accused of driving Al-Shamie to the UK Defence Academy in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, on 14 August to survey the location, weeks before the synagogue attack.
It is alleged he did so "with the intention of assisting Jihad Al-Shamie to commit acts of terrorism", the preparation of terrorism charge says.
The assistance allegedly provided by Mr Bashir was not in relation to the attack on the Heaton Park Synagogue in Crumpsall on 2 October, prosecutors previously said.
Worshippers Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were killed after 35-year-old Al-Shamie drove his Kia Picanto into the gates of the synagogue and began attacking with a knife, wearing a fake suicide belt.
He was shot dead by armed police as he carried out the attack.
Mr Bashir, who was arrested on 27 November, was ordered to next appear in custody for a plea hearing on 17 April at the Old Bailey.
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