Manchester attacker’s mosque probed over ‘deal with Jews’ sermons

The Charity Commission is assessing a Manchester mosque attended by synagogue terrorist Jihad al-Shamie after recordings emerged of an imam calling on God to “deal with the Jews”.

The regulator is examining three sermons delivered at Al-Sunnah Mosque in Cheetham Hill, where al-Shamie and convicted terrorist Mohammad Bashir were regular worshippers.

The recordings, first uncovered by The Times, have brought fresh scrutiny on the mosque after CCTV shown in court revealed al-Shamie and Bashir discussing “martyrdom” and terrorism plans while there.

In one of the sermons, recorded in April 2024, the imam prayed: “God deal with the Jews and their allies… God, seize them with the seizure of the Mighty, the Powerful.”

Two other recordings included calls for God to “deal with Zionists” and “deal with the Zionist aggressors”.

The videos were published on the mosque’s official YouTube channel but have since been removed, according to The Times.

The Charity Commission has stressed that it is carrying out an initial regulatory assessment and has not opened a formal statutory inquiry.

A spokesperson said: “We take very seriously any alleged links between a charity and extremism or terrorism. Such links are abhorrent, and have no place in the sector.

“We are assessing concerns raised with us about sermons which appear to have been given at Al-Sunnah Mosque in 2024. Should we identify evidence that charity law or regulatory guidance has been breached, we will not hesitate to take robust action in line with our statutory remit.”

Al-Shamie went on to carry out the Yom Kippur terror attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in October 2025, killing Jewish worshippers Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53. He was shot dead by armed police.

Bashir was jailed for life last month with a minimum term of 17 years after admitting preparing a separate terrorist attack with al-Shamie.

The court heard the pair carried out hostile reconnaissance at the UK Defence Academy in Shrivenham, Swindon. CCTV footage shown during the case captured the two men discussing terrorism and “martyrdom” at Al-Sunnah Mosque.

There is no evidence that either man was present when the three sermons under assessment were delivered.

Greater Manchester Police has said Counter Terrorism Policing North West cannot confirm whether there is an active investigation without details of a formal crime report or referral.

Jewish News has contacted Al-Sunnah Mosque for comment.