Mohammad Bashir, 31, who conspired with Jihad Al-Shamie to carry out a terror attack on the UK's Defence Academy, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. Bashir drove Al-Shamie on a 10-hour round trip to conduct hostile reconnaissance at the facility in Shrivenham, Swindon, on August 14 last year, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Background to the plot
Al-Shamie, 35, later launched a fatal knife attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester on October 2, where two men died as worshippers gathered for Yom Kippur. Al-Shamie, wearing a fake suicide belt, was shot and killed by police outside the building. Bashir admitted guilt to the preparation of terrorist acts last month. Prosecutors stated there was no evidence linking him to the synagogue attack, but the planned assault on the Defence Academy was similar in nature and would have resulted in multiple fatalities.
The Defence Academy target
MoD Shrivenham houses the UK's Defence Academy, which provides professional defence and security training to British armed forces, government, industry, and overseas personnel. Up to 4,000 staff, contractors, students, and visitors are present on site at any time. Handing down the sentence, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said Bashir had become a "firmly committed jihadist" and was "equally engaged and enthusiastic" in plotting an attack on a British military facility.
Judge's remarks
She stated: "This was a viable plan to attack the Defence Academy in a broadly similar way to that in which Al-Shamie attacked the synagogue – using handheld weapons and a dummy suicide vest to cause as much bloodshed as possible. I am sure you were going to play an active part." The judge noted the plan was "far advanced, lacking only the acquisition of weapons but it did not go further."
Extremist activity
The court heard that Bashir sent over 2,000 messages to an Islamic extremist discussion group established by Al-Shamie in 2024. The judge said: "Many were about physical violence in the cause of jihad including calls for persecution and murder. You told the group that the best Muslims are either in prison, on the front line or in the grave. You exalted martyrdom. You praised Palestinian fighters and you posted messages about restoring glory to Muslim lands by exterminating Jewish men and taking Jewish women as concubines."
Investigation and evidence
After the synagogue attack, WhatsApp messages and voice notes between the pair were found on two mobiles seized from Al-Shamie earlier in 2025. The devices were confiscated when he was arrested in February for an alleged non-molestation order violation and in September on suspicion of rape. Sir Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, apologised for a "missed opportunity" to gather intelligence on Al-Shamie before his attack. Officers also obtained a warrant to examine Al-Shamie's iCloud and iPhone data, and CCTV footage of the pair at Al-Sunnah Mosque in Cheetham Hill was crucial to the prosecution.
Mosque cooperation
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, of Counter Terrorism Policing North West, confirmed the mosque "fully co-operated" with the investigation. He said: "The way that Al-Shamie and Bashir behaved in the mosque was very secretive and was not done in groups of people. They were going to corners of the mosque and were at pains to keep things confidential."
Bashir's behaviour after arrest
Bashir discarded his mobile after the Defence Academy visit and failed to inform police about his contact with Al-Shamie. He deleted material from another mobile before returning from a family wedding in Pakistan in November, when he was detained at Manchester Airport. The judge dismissed his claim of remorse and changed beliefs, stating: "I consider you remain dangerous. You have given no grounds that your attitude has really changed at all." After sentencing, Bashir grinned at relatives in the public gallery as he left the dock.
Inquests scheduled
Inquests into the deaths of Melvin Cravitz, 66, who died from multiple knife wounds, and Adrian Daulby, 53, who was struck by a single gunshot wound from an armed police officer, are scheduled for spring 2027. The inquests will examine Al-Shamie's radicalisation and whether the attack could have been prevented.
