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| Seven arrested in Birmingham in major terror raids Six men and one woman have been arrested in Birmingham as part of a large counter-terrorism operation intended "to ensure public safety", police said. 8:55AM BST 19 Sep 2011 The suspects were detained at or near their homes overnight on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism in the UK. A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said six men, aged between 25 and 32, were taken into custody by unarmed officers in the Moseley, Sparkbrook, Sparkhill, Ward End and Balsall Heath areas of Birmingham between 11.30pm last night and 1am today. ln addition, a 22-year-old woman was arrested at 6.30 this morning on suspicion of failing to disclose information, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000. Although the nature of suspected offences has not been disclosed, the arrests are not believed to have any connection to the Liberal Democrats' autumn conference, which is currently taking place at Birmingham's International Convention Centre. A West Midlands Police statement said: "Searches are now being conducted by specialist teams at these and seven other properties in the city – six domestic and one commercial. "The suspects are being held for questioning at a police station in the West Midlands Police area." Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale of the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit said: "The operation is in its early stages so we are unable to go into detail at this time about the nature of the suspected offences. "However, I believe it was necessary to take action at this time in order to ensure public safety." Any one with information that may assist counter terrorism investigations is asked to call the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. Police are believed to be searching a house in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham. Plain-clothes police officers and forensic teams could be seen at a house in Turner Road. Meanwhile, a grey estate car was covered with tarpaulin and driven away on the back of a flatbed truck in nearby Ladypool Road. West Midlands Police have refused to confirm the addresses of properties which are being searched in the city as part of the investigation. Seven arrested in Birmingham in major terror raids - Telegraph |
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| Anti-terrorist police arrest seven in Birmingham West Midlands police question suspects over alleged plot to carry out act of terrorism Vikram Dodd and Richard Norton-Taylor guardian.co.uk, Monday 19 September 2011 14.17 BST There has been a large police presence in Birmingham because of the Liberal Democrats' annual conference in the city. Counter-terrorism officers have arrested seven people, fearing they were in the "advanced stages" of planning a mass-casualty attack on the British mainland, the Guardian has learned. The arrests were made in Birmingham, with six men arrested under counter-terrorism laws, and a woman arrested on suspicion of failing to disclose information. Police say the plot, which they believe to be al-Qaida inspired, was thwarted after counter-terrorism officials received or developed intelligence about the men. The arrests took place from 11.30am on Sunday, with the last suspect detained at around 1am on Monday morning. The raids took place in several deprived areas of the city which have sizeable Muslim populations. The Liberal Democrat conference, which is taking place in Birmingham, is not thought to have been a target. West Midlands police said it had led a "major counter-terrorism operation" which was intelligence-led. The operation involved the domestic security service, MI5, with officers from Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command supporting the Birmingham-based force. The terrorist threat level for the UK remained at "substantial" after the arrests. It was lowered from the higher level of "severe" in July. Police say the arrests were made by unarmed officers, indicating there was no expectation of finding explosives or weapons at the addresses raided. Searches were continuing on Monday across Birmingham, where more than 10 addresses were being checked by officers. One car was seen being taken away. Past raids have seen the authorities embarrassed and caused harm to community relations when intelligence turned out to be wrong. West Midlands police have tended to adopt a policy of releasing minimal information. The six men were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism in the UK. They were aged 25 to 32. All are British citizens and some are believed to be of Pakistani heritage. Police said they were arrested "at or in the vicinity of their home addresses". Counter-terrorism raids are usually conducted before dawn, as suspects are highly likely to be at home. The fact police moved when some were not at home, and the time the arrests were made, further suggests there was a rushed element to the raids. The usual police policy is to let suspected terrorist plots develop in order to gather evidence to gain convictions in the courts, balanced against the risk a plot may pose to public safety. The decision on what action should be taken is believed to have been made at an executive liaison group where police and MI5 meet to discuss major operations. Police also confirmed that a 22-year-old woman from Saltley, Birmingham, had been arrested at 6.30am on suspicion of failing to disclose information contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000. In a brief statement, West Midlands police's assistant chief constable for security, Marcus Beale, said: "The operation is in its early stages so we are unable to go into detail at this time about the nature of the suspected offences. "However, I believe it was necessary to take action at this time in order to ensure public safety." |
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| Birmingham terror arrests: home of man convicted of plot to behead British soldier raided The home of a man convicted of being involved in a plot to behead a British soldier was raided as police arrested six men and a woman as part of a counter-terrorism operation. By Nick Britten, Victoria Ward, Duncan Gardham, Mark Hughes 7:53PM BST 19 Sep 2011 Security sources believe that the men, from Birmingham, are part of a potential al-Qaeda suicide bomb plot which was under guidance from Pakistan. The group had been under MI5 surveillance for several weeks before the arrests on Sunday night although it is unclear where or when the suspected plot was to be carried out. Sources claimed that bugged conversations suggested the men, who are believed to have travelled to Pakistan, were moving towards executing the plan although they had "not yet reached the goal line". Detectives searched 14 houses in Birmingham, arresting six men and a woman, in a series of raids which continued yesterday. One of the houses searched is registered to Mohammed Irfan, who was jailed for four years in 2008 for his part in a plot to kidnap a British Muslim soldier and behead him live on the internet. It is not thought that Irfan, 34, is one of those arrested as part of this operation although he has since been released from prison. [On 25.10.2009] Two of the men arrested were named by relatives as brothers Bahader and Ashik Ali. Ashik Ali’s former wife Salma Kabal, 22, and her family live in one of the houses raided by police. West Midlands Police refused to confirm the identity of those arrested, but confirmed that a 22-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of failing to disclose information in relation to the prevention of terrorism. Police said that all of the men were arrested by unarmed officers. Eye witnesses said the Ali brothers were arrested in the street at around 11pm as they stood near a green Volkswagen Passat close to Bahader Ali’s home in the Sparkbrook area of the city. It is believed that a third man was arrested alongside them. One witness said: “They kept hold of the men separately, made them dress in white plastic forensic suit and covered their heads with a cloth or bag. “They said ‘we’re here to take you to a police station, have you got anything that will be of danger to us, to you or anyone around us?” She said the men all wore traditional white Islamic clothes, and one was bearded. A man claiming to be Bahader and Ashik Ali’s brother said they had vision disabilities having both suffered a hole in the heart as children. He said: “They can hardly see more than a few yards, how on earth can they be terrorists? “If they have done wrong then they deserve to be punished, but they would not be involved in something like this. “All I can tell you is that be it in a day, a week or a month, they will be proven 100 per cent innocent.” Bahader Ali, 28, is married and understood to live with their family in an end terrace house in Turner Street, Sparkbrook. He works at a gym in the city. Ashik, 26, is said to live in a council house elsewhere in Birmingham. Neighbours said that Ashik Ali and Miss Kabal married about two years ago but had recently divorced. Local residents said Miss Kabal, who always wore a niqab, was a bubbly, talkative woman who had seemed an unlikely match for Ali, who was described as "incredibly intense and devoutly religious". One neighbour, who did not want to be identified, said: " Ashik had an Islamic beard and was unemployed when he lived here. "I heard that he wanted Salma to move to Karachi with him and live in a madras but she refused. "Although she wore a full veil, her family are quite liberal really.” A 32-year-old man was arrested in the Ward End area of the city. Yesterday police searched two homes in Asquith Road, Ward End. One of them is home to former delivery driver Mohammed Irfan. Irfan pleaded guilty to being part of a gang which planned to kidnap a soldier and behead him “like a pig”. They intended to burn the soldier’s body and parade his head on a stick as a warning to other Muslims against joining the British Army. He was released early after serving less than two years. A 25-year-old, a 26-year-old and a 30-year-old were also arrested as part of yesterday’s operation. West Midlands Police Assistant Chief Constable, Marcus Beale said: “This was a large-scale operation led by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit. The operation has been running for some time and has been subject to regular review. As a result of one of those reviews yesterday we decided that the time was right and moved to make six arrests during the night, with a further one a few hours later. Some computer equipment has already been removed and is being examined. As I'm sure you are aware, that this may take some time.” He said the arrests were not related to the Liberal Democrats part conference which is taking place in the city. Telegraph |
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| Three men charged with plotting suicide bombing campaign Six men in total – all from Birmingham – charged over terrorism offences after arrests in city last week Ben Quinn guardian.co.uk, Sunday 25 September 2011 23.00 BST Article history Terror arrest in Birmingham Police forensic officers cover a car in Sparkbrook, Birmingham last week, following the arrest of six men, who were charged with terrorism offences on Sunday. Photograph: David Jones/PA Three men from Birmingham who were arrested a week ago as part of a major operation by counter-terrorism police in the Midlands have been charged with plotting a suicide bombing campaign in the UK. Two of them, Irfan Nasser and Irfan Khalid, aged 30 and 26 and from the Sparkhill and Sparkbrook areas, also face charges of making a martyrdom film, travelling to Pakistan for training in terrorism – including bomb making, weapons and poison making – collecting money for terrorism, and constructing a home-made explosive device. Ashik Ali, 26, from Balsall Heath, was charged with collecting money for terrorism, stating an intention to be a suicide bomber, and involvement in recruiting others for terrorist acts. A fourth man, Rahin Ahmed, 25, from Mosely, was charged with assisting others to travel to Pakistan for terrorism training, and investing and managing money for terrorist acts. It is alleged that between Christmas Day 2010 and 19 September this year, they were preparing, or helping others prepare, to commit acts of terrorism. Two other men, Bahader Ali and Mohammed Rizwan, aged 28 and 32 and from Sparkbrook, were also charged with failing to disclose information. It is alleged that between 29 July and 19 September this year, both had information which they knew may help prevent the commission of an act of terrorism. Bahader Ali, who is Ashik Ali's brother, was also charged with terrorist fund raising. Last week's arrests were unarmed, pre-planned and intelligence-led, according to West Midlands police, which added that a seventh man from Birmingham, aged 20, continues to be questioned. Officers have until Thursday to charge him, release him, or apply for a further warrant of detention. The six charged men will appear at West London magistrates court in Hammersmith on Monday. The arrests took place from 11.30am on Sunday 18 September, with the last suspect detained at about 1am on the Monday morning. The raids took place in several deprived areas of the city that have sizeable Muslim populations. The operation involved MI5, with officers from Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command supporting the Birmingham-based force. West Midlands police said last week the "large-scale operation" had been running for some time and had been subject to regular review, adding that the action was necessary "in order to ensure public safety". |
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| Birmingham march passes off peacefully 18 September 2011 Today's (Sunday 18 Sept) planned TUC march through Birmingham city centre has passed off peacefully. At its height, between 1000 and 1500 protesters took part in the event, which travelled along an agreed route from Granville Street to Ludgate Hill, where a rally was then held. Rolling road closures were put in place to ensure the safety and security of those taking part, and the wider Birmingham community. Superintendent Matt Ward said following today's march: "We thank everyone involved for their co-operation in making sure that this event passed off peacefully. "We underdstand that there was some traffic congestion in the city centre as a result, and unfortunately a road traffic collision on St Chads Queensway also led to some traffic problems around the tunnels, however these were cleared as soon as possible to ensure that we could get the roads moving again." No arrests were made during the event. |
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| Seven Arrested in Major Counter Terrorism Operation 19 September 2011 SEVEN ARRESTED IN MAJOR COUNTER TERRORISM OPERATION Six men have been arrested in Birmingham overnight as part of a large pre-planned, intelligence-led counter terrorism operation. All were detained on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism in the UK (under the Terrorism Act 2000). Aged between 25 and 32, the suspects were detained at or in the vicinity of their home addresses by UNARMED officers between approximately 11.30 last night and one o'clock this morning. In addition, one female aged 22 has been arrested at 6.30 this morning on suspicion of failing to disclose information (which a person knows or believes might be of material assistance in preventing an act of terrorism or in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person involved in an act of terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000). Searches are now being conducted by specialist teams at these and seven other properties in the city - six domestic and one commercial. The suspects are being held for questioning at a police station in the West Midlands Police area. The operation is being led by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit. Assistant chief constable Marcus Beale says: "The operation is in its early stages so we are unable to go into detail at this time about the nature of the suspected offences. "However, I believe it was necessary to take action at this time in order to ensure public safety." Those detained are: Male aged 25 from Moseley Male aged 26 from Sparkbrook Male aged 26 from Balsall Heath Male aged 28 from Sparkbrook Male aged 30 from Sparkhill Male aged 32 from Ward End Female aged 22 from Saltley Any one with information that may assist counter terrorism investigations is asked to call the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. Guidance: These arrests have no connection with the Liberal Democrat party conference currently taking place in Birmingham We respectfully request that the media and public do not speculate about the nature of the suspected offences as it would not be helpful at this stage of the investigation. For clarity, we will not be releasing street details and it is our policy not to name suspects unless or until they are formally charged. Updates will be provided as the investigation progresses. |
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| Update following terrorism arrests media briefing 19 September 2011 - Updated: 22 September 2011 A briefing took place at West Midlands Police headquarters this afternoon to update assembled members of the local and national media regarding today's arrests under the Terrorism Act. Below is a summary of the speech made by Assistant Chief Constable, Marcus Beale: "I fully understand that after a counter terrorism operation of this size, the public will want to know more details about what we suspect may have been going on - and what has prompted us to take this action. "For us – once the key issue of public safety has been addressed – and it has been for this operation - the main thing is to do all we can to investigate the matter professionally, thoroughly and fairly. "And in fairness to the suspects - and to any judicial proceedings which may or may not follow – I am sure you can appreciate that this means that I cannot discuss the details of alleged offences in public. "However, I can tell you this was a large-scale operation led by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit. The operation has been running for some time and has been subject to regular review. As a result of one of those reviews yesterday we decided that the time was right and moved to make six arrests during the night, with a further one a few hours later. The arrests were made by unarmed officers. All were arrested from either home addresses or nearby. All are from the Birmingham area, and with the exception of the female arrested, all are under terrorism detention. "We worked hard from early this morning to inform communities in the vicinity of the relevant addresses, stakeholders and partners about the action police officers were taking - and the feedback we have received so far has been supportive. I would like to encourage that if anyone has any information or concerns about the arrests, they can in confidence contact the anti-terrorism hotline number on 0800 789321. "In terms of what happens now, we are continuing to search a total of 14 properties. Some computer equipment has already been removed and is being examined. As I'm sure you are aware, that this may take some time. "I would like to make two final points at this stage. Firstly can I ask that speculation about targets or the identity of suspects be kept to a minimum as this is neither fair to them or to any judicial process which may or may not follow. "And finally, I would like to say that the fact that these arrests have occurred whilst the Liberal Democrat Conference in Birmingham is taking place is a complete coincidence. "Thank you." |
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| Woman bailed as detectives question six over terror offences 20 September 2011 WEST Midlands Police continue to question six men on suspicion of terrorism offences, this morning (Tuesday 20 September). The men were all arrested in Birmingham overnight from Sunday in Monday morning (18-19 Sept) as part of a large pre-planned, intelligence-led counter terrorism operation, and are detained at a police station in the West Midlands. The men, aged between 25 and 32, were all arrested from, or near, their homes on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism in the UK (under the Terrorism Act 2000). In addition, one female aged 22 was arrested on Monday morning on suspicion of failing to disclose information (which a person knows or believes might be of material assistance in preventing an act of terrorism or in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person involved in an act of terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000). She was released late last night on police bail. Searches were conducted by specialist teams at 14 properties in the city including one commercial property. Searches continue at 10 of those premises today. A number of vehicles, computers and other items relevant to the investigation have been seized and are now being forensically examined. Those detained are: * Male aged 25 from Moseley * Male aged 26 from Sparkbrook * Male aged 26 from Balsall Heath * Male aged 28 from Sparkbrook * Male aged 30 from Sparkhill * Male aged 32 from Ward End Anyone with information that may assist counter terrorism investigations is asked to call the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. |
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| Police granted more time to question Birmingham terror suspects 20 September 2011 Tweet Police have been granted warrants of further detention to continue questioning six men being detained on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism in the UK (contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000). Officers now have until approximately midnight on Sunday (September 25) to charge, release or apply for an additional extension. The men, all from Birmingham and aged 25 to 32, were arrested last Sunday night and Monday morning as part of a major pre-planned counter terrorism operation. A 22 year old woman who was also arrested, on suspicion of failing to disclose information (contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000), was released yesterday on police bail pending further enquiries. Forensic teams have conducted searches at a total of 16 properties in the city. They continue to examine eight domestic addresses with work at the other eight – which included a commercial property – now concluded. Those being detained are: Male aged 25 from Moseley Male aged 26 from Sparkbrook Male aged 26 from Balsall Heath Male aged 28 from Sparkbrook Male aged 30 from Sparkhill Male aged 32 from Ward End |
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| Police make further terrorism arrest in Birmingham 22 September 2011 Police have arrested another man in connection with a major counter terrorism operation in Birmingham. A 20-year-old from Yardley was detained at approximately 6pm this evening on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism in the UK (contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000). He was arrested at a police station, which he had agreed to attend. The six men arrested earlier in the week continue to be questioned. Officers have until Sunday night to charge or release them, or apply for a warrant of further detention. A woman also detained in connection to this operation has been given police bail pending further enquiries. The seven men currently being detained, at a police station in the WMP area, are: Male aged 25 from Moseley Male aged 26 from Sparkbrook Male aged 26 from Balsall Heath Male aged 28 from Sparkbrook Male aged 30 from Sparkhill Male aged 32 from Ward End Male aged 20 from Yardley |
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| Six charged with terrorism offences 25 September 2011 Four men have this evening been charged with preparing for an act of terrorism in the UK, and two more with failing to disclose information. One has additionally been charged with terrorist fundraising. The men, all from Birmingham, were arrested a week ago as part of a major operation carried out by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit. The arrests were unarmed, pre-planned and intelligence-led. A seventh man from the city, aged 20 and arrested on Thursday, continues to be questioned. Officers have until Thursday September 29 to charge, release or apply for a further warrant of detention. The six charged are aged between 25 and 32 and will appear at West London Magistrates Court (Hammersmith) tomorrow afternoon. Those charged are: IRFAN NASSER (14/6/81) aged 30 of 55 Doris Road, Sparkhill IRFAN KHALID (1/3/85) aged 26 of 35 Timbers Way, Sparkbrook ASHIK ALI (12/3/85) aged 26 of 23 White Street, Balsall Heath RAHIN AHMED (28/7/86) aged 25 of 114 Moorcroft Road, Moseley BAHADER ALI (4/7/83) aged 28 of 27 Turner Street, Sparkbrook MOHAMMED RIZWAN (3/2/79) aged 32 of 75 Asquith Road, Sparkbrook The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised West Midlands Police to make the following: CHARGE 1; ENGAGING IN CONDUCT IN PREPARATION OF TERRORIST ACTS contrary to section 5(1) of the Terrorism Act 2006. IRFAN NASSER between the 25th day of December 2010 and the 19th September 2011 with the intention of committing acts of terrorism within the UK or assisting another to commit such acts engaged in conduct in preparation for giving effect to his intention, namely: i. Travelling to Pakistan for training in terrorism including bomb making, weapons and poison making. ii. Making a martyrdom film. iii. Planning a bombing campaign. iv. Planning a suicide bombing campaign/event. v. Collecting money for terrorism. vi. Advising and counselling the commission of terrorist acts by providing information about training in Pakistan vii. Advising, counselling on explosives and detonators. viii. Being concerned in the purchase of components and chemicals for a home made explosive device. ix. Constructing of a home made explosive device for terrorist acts. x. Being concerned in recruiting persons for terrorist training. xi. Being concerned in recruiting persons for terrorist acts. xii. Stating an intention to be a suicide bomber. CHARGE 2; ENGAGING IN CONDUCT IN PREPARATION OF TERRORIST ACTS contrary to section 5(1) of the Terrorism Act 2006. IRFAN KHALID between the 25th day of December 2010 and the 19th September 2011 with the intention of committing acts of terrorism within the UK or assisting another to commit such acts engaged in conduct in preparation for giving effect to his intention, namely: i. Travelling to Pakistan for training in terrorism including bomb making, weapons and poison making. ii. Making a martyrdom film. iii. Planning a bombing campaign. iv. Planning a suicide bombing campaign/event. v. Collecting money for terrorism. vi. Advising and counselling the commission of terrorist acts by providing information about training in Pakistan vii. Advising, counselling on explosives and detonators. viii. Being concerned in the purchase of components and chemicals for a home made explosive device. ix. Constructing of a home made explosive device for terrorist acts. x. Being concerned in recruiting persons for terrorist training. xi. Being concerned in recruiting persons for terrorist acts. xii. Stating an intention to be a suicide bomber. CHARGE 3: ENGAGING IN CONDUCT IN PREPARATION OF TERRORIST ACTS contrary to section 5(1) of the Terrorism Act 2006. ASHIK ALI between the 25th day of December 2010 and the 19th September 2011 with the intention of committing acts of terrorism within the UK or assisting another to commit such acts engaged in conduct in preparation for giving effect to his intention, namely: i. Planning a bombing campaign ii. Planning a suicide bombing campaign/event. iii. Collecting money for terrorism iv. Providing premises for the planning of terrorism acts and making of explosives. v. Learning about explosives and detonators. vi. Being concerned in the purchase of components and chemicals for a home made explosive device. vii. Constructing of a home made explosive device for terrorist acts. viii. Being concerned in recruiting persons for terrorist training. ix. Being concerned in recruiting persons for terrorist acts. x. Stating an intention to be a suicide bomber. CHARGE 4; ENGAGING IN CONDUCT IN PREPARATION OF TERRORIST ACTS contrary to section 5(1) of the Terrorism Act 2006. RAHIN AHMED between the 25th day of December 2010 and the 19th September 2011 with the intention of committing acts of terrorism within the UK or assisting another to commit such acts engaged in conduct in preparation for giving effect to his intention, namely: i. Assisting others to travel to Pakistan for training in terrorism including bomb making, weapons and poison making. ii. Collecting money for terrorism. iii. Investing and managing money for terrorist acts. CHARGE 5; INFORMATION ABOUT ACTS OF TERRORISM, contrary to Section 38B (1) (a) and (2) of the Terrorism Act 2000 BAHADER ALI between the 29th July 2011 and the 19th September 2011 had information which he knew or believed might be of material assistance in preventing the commission by another person of an act of terrorism and did not disclose the information as soon as reasonably practicable. CHARGE 6; ENTERING INTO A FUNDING ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF TERRORISM, contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism Act 2000. BAHADER ALI before the 19th September 2011 entered into or became concerned in an arrangement as a result of which money or other property was to be made available to another, knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect that it would or might be used for the purposes of terrorism. CHARGE 7; INFORMATION ABOUT ACTS OF TERRORISM, contrary to Section 38B (1) (a) and (2) of the Terrorism Act 2000 MOHAMMED RIZWAN between the 29th July 2011 and the 19th September 2011 had information which he knew or believed might be of material assistance in preventing the commission by another person of an act of terrorism and did not disclose the information as soon as reasonably practicable. Ends. Note to editors: Ashik Ali and Bahader Ali are brothers. |
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| Flats evacuated after "inert" grenade find 23 September 2011 - Updated: 23 September 2011 RESIDENTS were evacuated from a Coventry apartment block when police officers uncovered a hand grenade in one of the flats. Police and firecrew attended Fremington Court, in Upper York Street, at 8.30am this morning (Sept 23) after a small fire broke out and neighbours reported hearing two small explosions. Early investigations suggest the fire started accidentally and that the explosions were caused by overheating aerosol cans. However, bomb disposal experts were called when a police search of the flat unearthed a hand grenade. A West Midlands Police spokesman, said: "The bottom had been chiselled out of the grenade and it didn't appear to contain any explosive material – it seemed to be more of a souvenir. "One of the police officers at scene had explosives knowledge but to be on the safe side we called in bomb disposal experts. "They removed the device at around 1.30pm; it was confirmed to be an inert device and the scene declared safe." A small police cordon was erected around the apartment block during the incident as a precaution. The police spokesman, added: "It appears the initial fire broke out in a vacant flat and there were no injuries. Residents were evacuated to a nearby welfare point – unfortunately their stay had to be prolonged there when we uncovered the grenade." |
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| Sky Dome bomb hoax suspect arrested 22 September 2011 COVENTRY Police have arrested a man on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat and claiming "the Sky Dome's going to blow-up in five minutes". Call handlers received a 999 call at around 1.30am this morning (22 Sept) from someone saying an explosive device had been planted at the venue. CCTV cameras tracked a man from a nearby phone kiosk and along Spon Street where he was arrested outside IKEA. A West Midlands Police spokesman, said: "Response officers made the arrest just six minutes after the threat was made to the police contact centre. "The call lasted no more than a few seconds and gave no specific details." A 22-year-old man from Willenhall in Coventry is today being questioned by police on suspicion of making hoax calls and possessing drugs. |
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| Birmingham terror arrests: Police get more time to quiz suspects Sep 20 2011 POLICE have been granted extra time to question six men arrested under the Terrorism Act in Birmingham yesterday. Officers now have until midnight on Sunday to charge, release or apply for an additional extension. The men, all from Birmingham and aged 25 to 32, were arrested last Sunday night and Monday morning as part of a major pre-planned counter terrorism operation. A 22 year old woman who was also arrested, on suspicion of failing to disclose information contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000, was released yesterday on police bail pending further enquiries. Forensic teams have conducted searches at a total of 16 properties in the city. They continue to examine eight domestic addresses with work at the other eight – which included a commercial property – now concluded. Those being detained are a 25-year-old man from Moseley, a 26-year-old man from Sparkbrook, a 26-year-old man from Balsall Heath, a 28-year-old from Sparkbrook, a 30-year-old from Sparkhill and a 32-year-old from Ward End. Residents living near some of the raided homes today spoke of their shock. Householders in Moorcroft Road, Moseley, where one man was arrested, said they heard loud bangs as police carried out the raid. Baz Shooter, aged 21, who lives next door to the arrest scene, said: “I head a loud bang and shouting but I had no idea what was happening. I don’t know too much about the people who live next door, other than it’s a family house. “The man is quite young, I think he has four or five brothers. I’ve seen at least three around there quite a lot. It’s a bit of a shock.” Mukesh Kumar, who lives on the same road, said: “I saw lots of police going past my house and I wondered what was going on.” A large number of police officers were outside the house and a red car was seen being towed away yesterday morning. A car was also towed away in Turner Street, Sparkhill, where it was believed a 28-year-old man was arrested. Businessman Abdul Manan, aged 32, said he was on nodding terms with the family at the home. He said: “They’re a nice family, I used to see them around and say hello. We didn’t have long conversations.’’ Another resident, who asked not to be named, said he thought the raids were a waste of time. He said: “There’s no way they’re involved with terrorism. This just makes the community look bad.” Residents in Ellesmere Road, Saltley, where the 22-year-old woman was arrested yesterday morning, said they woke to see police going in and out of a house. A man was also arrested at an address in Asquith Road, Ward End. Source |
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| Six held in major anti-terror probe By Matthew Cooper and Wesley Johnson Monday, 19 September 2011 Six men have been arrested in connection with one of the most significant intelligence-led counter-terrorism operations this year. The men were detained at or near their homes in Birmingham overnight on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism in the UK following a joint investigation by both police and MI5. It is understood the investigation relates to suspected Islamist extremism, but it is not thought that an attack or threat was imminent. A seventh person, a 22-year-old woman, was arrested on suspicion of failing to disclose information contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000, police said. West Midlands Police said the "large-scale operation" had been running for some time and had been subject to regular review, adding that the action was necessary "in order to ensure public safety". Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale said: "As a result of one of those reviews yesterday we decided that the time was right and moved to make six arrests during the night, with a further one a few hours later." All the arrests, which are are thought to be among the most significant from anti-terror operations this year, were made by unarmed officers. The six men, aged between 25 and 32, were taken into custody in the Moseley, Sparkbrook, Sparkhill, Ward End and Balsall Heath areas of Birmingham between 11.30pm last night and 1am today. The 22-year-old woman, from Saltley, Birmingham, was arrested at 6.30am on suspicion of failing to disclose information contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000. With the exception of the woman arrested, all are under terrorism detention. Mr Beale went on: "I fully understand that after a counter-terrorism operation of this size, the public will want to know more details about what we suspect may have been going on - and what has prompted us to take this action. "For us, once the key issue of public safety has been addressed - and it has been for this operation - the main thing is to do all we can to investigate the matter professionally, thoroughly and fairly." Speculation over potential targets or the identity of the suspects was "neither fair to them or to any judicial process which may or may not follow", he added. The suspects, who were all from the Birmingham area and arrested at home addresses or nearby, are being held for questioning at an unnamed police station in the West Midlands Police area. Specialist police teams are searching a total of 14 properties, including the suspects' homes, and computer equipment has already been removed for examination. Mr Beale said: "We worked hard from early this morning to inform communities in the vicinity of the relevant addresses, stakeholders and partners about the action police officers were taking - and the feedback we have received so far has been supportive." Police were believed to be searching a house in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham as plain-clothes police officers and forensic teams could be seen at a house in Turner Road. Meanwhile, a grey estate car was covered with tarpaulin and driven away on the back of a flatbed truck in nearby Ladypool Road. Officers were also seen going in and out of a large house in nearby Moorcroft Road in Moseley. West Midlands Police have refused to confirm the addresses of properties which are being searched in the city as part of the investigation. But the arrests were not related to the Liberal Democrats' conference, which is taking place at the city's International Convention Centre, police said. The international terror threat level to the UK was reduced from severe to substantial in July, where it remains, but a terrorist attack is still a strong possibility and might well occur without further warning. There are five levels of threat, ranging from low, meaning an attack is unlikely, to critical, when an attack is expected imminently. The threat level was last at critical in June 2007, following the attack on Glasgow Airport and the failed car bombings in central London. :: Anyone with information to assist the inquiry, which is being led by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, is asked to call the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. PA Source |
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| Birmingham arrests: Residents living near raid scenes tell of their shock by James Cartledge, Birmingham Mail Sep 20 2011 RESIDENTS living near some of the raided homes spoke of their shock. Householders in Moorcroft Road, Moseley, where one man was arrested, said they heard loud bangs as police carried out the raid. Baz Shooter, aged 21, who lives next door to the arrest scene, said: “I head a loud bang and shouting but I had no idea what was happening. I don’t know too much about the people who live next door, other than it’s a family house. “The man is quite young, I think he has four or five brothers. I’ve seen at least three around there quite a lot. It’s a bit of a shock.” Mukesh Kumar, who lives on the same road, said: “I saw lots of police going past my house and I wondered what was going on.” A large number of police officers were outside the house and a red car was seen being towed away yesterday morning. A car was also towed away in Turner Street, Sparkhill, where it was believed a 28-year-old man was arrested. Businessman Abdul Manan, aged 32, said he was on nodding terms with the family at the home. He said: “They’re a nice family, I used to see them around and say hello. We didn’t have long conversations.’’ Another resident, who asked not to be named, said he thought the raids were a waste of time. He said: “There’s no way they’re involved with terrorism. This just makes the community look bad.” Residents in Ellesmere Road, Saltley, where the 22-year-old woman was arrested yesterday morning, said they woke to see police going in and out of a house. A man was also arrested at an address in Asquith Road, Ward End. Source |
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| Seventh man charge with terrorism offences 29 September 2011 A 20 year old man from Birmingham has this afternoon been charged with terrorism fundraising and with failing to disclose information. Mujahid Hussain is the seventh person charged in relation to a recent counter terrorism operation in the city. Six other men have already appeared in court and have been remanded until October. Hussain will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court tomorrow. Details of the charges authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service are: CHARGE No.1 ENTERING INTO A FUNDING ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF TERRORISM, contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism Act 2000. MUJAHID HUSSAIN before the 19th September 2011 entered into or became concerned in an arrangement as a result of which money or other property was to be made available to another, knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect that it would or might be used for the purposes of terrorism. CHARGE No.2 INFORMATION ABOUT ACTS OF TERRORISM, contrary to Section 38B (1) (a) and (2) of the Terrorism Act 2000. MUJAHID HUSSAIN between the 29th July 2011 and the 19th September 2011 had information which he knew or believed might be of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of another person, in the United Kingdom, for an offence involving the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism and did not disclose the information as soon as reasonably practicable. |
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| Four held in Birmingham terror raids Four men in Birmingham were arrested in raids today as part of a major ongoing anti-terror investigation. Overstretched?: Police forces are being pushed ever more, says Michael Nicholson. Photo: PA 9:35AM GMT 15 Nov 2011 Officers from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit detained the men at their homes in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham on suspicion of travelling to Pakistan to undertake terrorist training and of raising funds for terrorist purposes. A police spokesman said the suspects, aged between 19 and 24, had been arrested as part of Operation Pitsford, a large-scale inquiry which has already seen eight other people charged with a variety of offences. A police spokesman said: "Today's arrests were pre-planned and not made in response to any immediate threat to public safety." Officers were unarmed during the raids, the spokesman added, and detectives have an initial 48 hours to question the suspects before charging, releasing or applying for a warrant of further detention. Eight people arrested in September have already been charged in connection with the investigation and seven of them are currently on remand after appearing in court. Four held in Birmingham terror raids - Telegraph |
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| Terror suspects accused of funding Pakistan training appears in court By Mail On Sunday Reporter Last updated at 12:04 PM on 20th November 2011 Four men were remanded in custody yesterday charged with terrorism offences. Khobaib Hussain, Ishaaq Hussain, Shahid Kasam Khan, all 19, and Naweed Mahmood Ali, 24, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in Central London. Suspects: A sketch of the four men when they appeared in court Suspects: A sketch of the four Birmingham men when they appeared in court The men, all from Birmingham, are charged with fundraising for terrorist purposes, travelling to Pakistan for terrorist training and travelling abroad to commit acts of terrorism. They were arrested in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham by officers from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit last week. A West Midlands police spokesman said yesterday: ‘These charges are in connection with Operation Pitsford, a major counter-terrorism investigation that has already seen eight people charged and appear in court.’ The four will appear in court again on December 9. Terror suspect accused of funding Pakistan training appears in court | Mail Online |
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| 'Bombers plotted attacks bigger than 7/7' - Two Muslim suspects had made martyrdom videos, court told - Pair alleged to have planned eight rucksack bomb attacks - Court hears gang is 'homegrown terrorist cell' Paul Cheston 22 October 2012 A gang of Muslim jihadists planned to launch a bombing campaign to eclipse the London attacks of 7/7, a court heard today. One of the plotters even described the plot as “another 9/11”, the jury was told. It is alleged they aimed to detonate eight rucksack bombs in suicide attacks to cause mass death. Woolwich crown court heard that two had made martyrdom videos at a terrorist training camp in Pakistan, ready for release to the world once the attacks had succeeded. Irfan Naseer, 31, Irfan Khalid, 27, and Ashik Ali, 27, deny engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts between Christmas Day 2010 and September last year. They were among 11 people rounded up by anti-terrorist officers in the West Midlands. Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, said: “Police successfully disrupted a plan to commit an act or acts of terrorism on a scale potentially greater than the London bombings in July 2005, had it been allowed to run its course. “Although the finer details had not been worked out and agreed on, the defendants were preparing to detonate up to eight rucksack bombs on a suicide attack, and/or detonate bombs on targets in crowded areas to cause mass death and casualties. “One of them was even to describe their plan as another 9/11.” The gang was a “homegrown terrorist cell,” the court heard. The 11 arrested and charged were of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin. They include a young woman who was the estranged wife of one of the alleged plotters. All 11 have been charged with a variety of terrorist offences. The three defendants, all from Birmingham, were described as “central figures in the plot”. Naseer, who was known as “Chubbs” or “Big Irfan”, had a chemistry degree from Aston University. Mr Altman said: “It was his knowledge of chemistry, plus his training in terrorism in Pakistan, which allowed the defendants to experiment in producing an explosive mix, with a view to constructing a homemade explosive device in the kitchen [of Ali’s one-bedroom flat] in the days leading up to the arrest of the defendants and others.” It is alleged that during terrorist training in Pakistan, Naseer and Khalid were taught how to make weapons and poisons — techniques they hoped to deploy in this country. They both made martyrdom videos in Pakistan, the court heard, and returned to Britain in July last year. Mr Altman said they sought to spread what they had learned to others in this country: “The defendants were trying to recruit others to join them, some were sent abroad to train in terrorism and others joined them in using charity funds to raise money for terrorist purposes.” The court heard that the defendants were jihadists who had been influenced by the lectures and writings of Anwar Al-Awlaki, a US-born extremist of Yemini descent who was an affiliate of al Qaeda on the Arabian peninsula. All the defendants are British born and raised in the Birmingham area where they hatched their plot. Khalid, known as "little Irfan" or "Sylvester", worked in 2010 as a security guard. Ali's flat was used as a safe house. He was estranged from his wife and cut himself off from his family so he could concentrate on jihad, the court heard. Nasser, Khalid and others made street collections for the Muslim Aid charity which they diverted to their terrorist cause. "The defendants and those they employed to raise funds with them were despicably stealing from their own community money donated to charity," said Mr Altman. They wore high visibility jackets and shook buckets on the streets of Birmingham. Rahin Ahmed, who has pleaded guilty to preparing for terrorist acts, was the chief fundraiser and banked just over 13,500 pounds. But the court heard he gambled 14,500 on the Forex in a a capital markets trading account to try and increase his profits but ended up losing 9,000. In the end Muslim Aid received only 1,500 and an Islamic learning centre 900 ofg the money raised. Nasser and Ahmed sent four other young men to a Pakistan training camp and all four have pleaded guilty, jurors were told. Al-Awlaki was killed in September last year by an American drone only 12 days after the defendants had been arrested. Mr Altam added: “All of the defendants made the deliberate decision to become a terrorist following what they believed to be the right path dictated by their extremist religious and ideological belief.” The case continues.
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British Al-Qaeda gang planned 'another 9/11' in UK An al-Qaeda inspired gang of British Muslims planned to carry out “another 9/11” in the UK with up to eight suicide bombers, a court heard. Terrorist plotters (from the left) Irfan Naseer, 31, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali, both 27 Photo: PA Image 1 of 2 An al-Qaeda inspired gang of British Muslims planned to carry out “another 9/11” in the UK with up to eight suicide bombers, a court heard. Photo: GETTY By Tom Whitehead and Sam Marsden 11:26AM BST 22 Oct 2012A Jihadist group, from Birmingham, were to target crowded areas to cause “mass death” in a terror plot that was set to be even more devastating than the 7/7 London bombings, Woolwich Crown Court was told. Two of the alleged ringleaders had received terror training in Pakistan and made martyrdom videos to be released after they had “blown themselves up”. They were taught in bomb-making, how to use weapons and poisons before returning to the UK to recruit others for their plot. That included arranging for others to be sent to Pakistan for training as well. They planned to detonate homemade bombs in up to eight rucksacks and may also have blown others up with bombs on timers. A total of 11 men and one woman were arrested by police on various terrorism charges last September. The details emerged as the trial began today of the three central plotters. Irfan Naseer, 31, Irfan Khalid, 27, and Ashik Ali, 27, all unemployed from Birmingham, all deny a number of terror charges including planning a bombing campaign, recruiting others for terrorism and terrorism fundraising. Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, told the court: “In September 2011, and after, officers of the West Midlands Counter-Terrorism Unit arrested a number of young men from the Birmingham area, who are resident in this country. “With it the police successfully disrupted a plan to commit an act or acts of terrorism on a scale potentially greater than the London bombings in July 2005, if it had been allowed to runs its course. “Although the finer details had not been worked out and agreed upon, the defendants were proposing to detonate up to eight rucksack bombs in a suicide attack and/or detonate bombs on timers in crowded areas in order to cause mass deaths and casualties. “As you will hear, one of them was even to describe their plan as ‘another 9/11’.” He added: “The defendants are jihadists – extremists, influenced, in particular, but not exclusively, by the lectures and writings of Anwar Al-Awlaki, a US born extremist of Yemeni descent, and an affiliate of Al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula.” Awlaki was killed by a drone attack just 12 days after the three men were arrested. Mr Altman said: “Each of the defendants made the deliberate decision to become a terrorist, following, what they believed to be, the right path dictated by their extreme religious and ideological beliefs.”
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| I'm assuming this is the same case, does anybody know for sure? |
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| Seven arrested in anti-terror raids in Birmingham after spy-plane targets suspects 20 Sep 2011 00:00 SEVEN people were arrested in Birmingham yesterday after a series of swoops by MI5 and anti-terror police. Police forensic officers cover a car on a lowloader on Ladypool Road, near to Turner Street, Sparkbrook, Birmingham (Pic:PA) Police forensic officers cover a car on a lowloader on Ladypool Road, near to Turner Street, Sparkbrook, Birmingham (Pic:PA) SEVEN people were arrested in Birmingham yesterday after a series of swoops by MI5 and anti-terror police. Officers held six men aged 25 to 32 and a 22-year-old woman in an investigation into suspected Islamic extremism. The raids came just hours after a spy plane was seen circling the city. The specially equipped planes are used by security forces to spot suspects, monitor phone calls and detect computer traffic. The men were arrested by unarmed officers at or near their homes in the Moseley, Sparkbrook, Sparkhill, Ward End and Balsall Heath areas. They were being questioned on suspicion of the “commission, preparation or instigation” of an act of terrorism in the UK. The woman, from Saltley, is suspected of failing to disclose information contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000. Police denied the operation was connected to al-Qaeda or a plot involving the Lib Dem conference being staged at the city’s International Convention Centre. One of the addresses – in the Ward End area – is linked to Mohammed Irfan, who was jailed in 2008 for his part in a plot to kidnap a Muslim British soldier and behead him live on the internet. But Irfan, 34, who was released after serving just two years is not believed to be among those arrested yesterday. A neighbour described the men who lived in the house on Asquith Road as devout Muslims. Police also raided a large detached home in the city’s Moseley area. A neighbour said: “The man who lives there is a taxi driver. He has four sons and seems like a really nice chap.” Specialist teams were searching the homes and vehicles of all seven arrested. Officers are also investigating seven other properties – six homes and one business premises. They include an end-terrace in Turner Street, Sparkbrook, believed to be shared by three families. Local Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said: “As far as I am led to believe there was a significant risk of a very serious plot being hatched and the police decided to move when they did. “I must pay tribute to the way the security services have acted, but it is a major concern that these things are still going on in our community.” Marcus Beale, West Midlands Assistant Chief Constable for Security, said: “The operation is in its early stages, but I believe it was necessary to take action at this time to ensure public safety.”
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| Three men 'planned terror attacks bigger than 7/7' Court hears one alleged plotter said 7 July 2005 attacks had not done enough damage Press Association guardian.co.uk, Monday 22 October 2012 17.31 BST Terror trial accused The alleged terrorist plotters (from left) Irfan Naseer, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali. Photograph: West Midlands police/PA Terrorist plotters planned to detonate a series of suicide bombs in an attack that could have been bigger than the 7 July 2005 atrocities, a court has heard. Irfan Naseer, 31, and Irfan Khalid, 27, travelled to Pakistan for terrorism training before returning to the UK in July last year, jurors at Woolwich crown court were told. In one conversation, Naseer was heard agreeing that the 7/7 attacks had not done enough damage because there were no nails in the bombs. The two men, along with Ashik Ali, also 27, are accused of being "central figures" in the alleged extremist plot. Ali told police in an interview that the plan had involved him wearing a suicide vest as well as carrying a gun, the jury heard. The group also discussed the use of poisons and attaching blades to the side of a vehicle before driving it into a crowd of people, it is claimed. The prosecutor Brian Altman QC told the court: "The police successfully disrupted a plan to commit an act or acts of terrorism on a scale potentially greater than the London bombings in July 2005 had it been allowed to run its course. "The defendants were proposing to detonate up to eight rucksack bombs in a suicide attack and/or to detonate bombs on timers in crowded areas in order to cause mass deaths and casualties." All the men are accused of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, which they deny. Naseer is accused of five counts of the offence, Khalid four and Ali three, all between Christmas Day 2010 and 19 September 2011. For Nasser, from Sparkhill, Khalid, from Sparkbrook, and Ali, from Balsall Heath, all in Birmingham, this is alleged to have included planning a bombing campaign, collecting money for terrorism and recruiting others for terrorism. Nasser and Khalid are also accused of travelling to Pakistan for training in terrorism, and it is alleged that Naseer also helped others to travel to the country for the same purpose. While in Pakistan, prosecutors claim Naseer and Khalid received training in how to use weapons and how to make bombs and poisons, and made suicide videos while they were there. After they returned to Britain, it is claimed, the group began trying to make homemade bombs, using a flat in Sparkbrook as their base. The group are also accused of making bogus charity collections in Birmingham for Muslim Aid as well as a local Muslim centre. But the two causes received only a fraction of the money they had collected, prosecutors say, while the rest was intended to fund the attack plan. Altman said they were "despicably stealing money from their own community donated to charity". In total, 11 men of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin were arrested over the alleged plot, and one woman. It is claimed that another four of the men were sent to Pakistan to receive terrorist training – Naweed Ali, 25, and Ishaaq Hussain, Khobaib Hussain and Shahid Khan, all 20. Prosecutors say Mohammed Rizwan, 33, and Bahader Ali, 29, were "wavering" about whether to get involved in the plot or to go to fight with jihadis abroad. Rahin Ahmed, 26, was allegedly used as the group's financier, and it is claimed that Mujahid Hussain, 21, was involved in fundraising. The court heard that the group had brought a sports injury cold pack, wrongly believing it contained a chemical that could be used in bomb making. The trial continues.
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| "The Ultimate Rowing Machine" Yahya Ibrahim has come up with an easy formula that isn't exactly about 'going green' ...[53] |
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| The idea is to use a pickup truck as a mowing machine, not to mow grass but mow down the enemies of Allah. |
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| The group also discussed the use of poisons and attaching blades to the side of a vehicle before driving it into a crowd of people, it is claimed. |
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| 24 October 2012 Last updated at 16:02 Terror trial: 'Suicide bombers ready to take on England'  Irfan Naseer, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali have denied terrorism charges A man accused of plotting a huge terror attack described himself and three others as "suicide bombers driving around ready to take on England", a court has been told. Irfan Khalid, 27, was covertly recorded by police in September as he drove through Birmingham with two men also on trial and a fourth man. They were also recorded discussing bomb making, prosecutors said. Mr Khalid, Irfan Naseer, 31, and Ashik Ali, 27, deny the charges. The trio are accused of planning to set off a series of suicide bombs in an attack which prosecutors said would have dwarfed the 7 July 2005 bombings in London. Mr Naseer denies five counts, Mr Khalid four and Mr Ali three, all between Christmas Day 2010 and 19 September 2011. On Wednesday in Woolwich Crown Court, the jury was told that as the men were driving in Birmingham with Mr Ali's brother Bahadar, they pretended to be Formula One commentators covering a race, talking about overtaking drivers including English former champions Jensen Button and Nigel Mansell. In the middle of the conversation, Mr Khalid said: "It's the four suicide bombers driving around ready to take on England. Oh my God... take them out." Nail polish and ice packs Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, told the jury: "There you have, in the middle of the conversation, Khalid, clearly in his mind, it's 'the four suicide bombers'." Other recordings in the car and at a Birmingham flat demonstrate that the men embarked on "clear terror planning" on September 16 last year, prosecutors said. "In the early hours of September 16 the defendants embarked on detailed discussions about how to make an IED [improvised explosive device] and about sourcing the relevant chemicals to make an explosive mixture," Mr Altman said. "Naseer can be heard teaching Ashik Ali about bomb making. Their discussion ranged from ammonium nitrate to detonators. They discussed chemical formulae, quantities of chemicals, syringes to be used to create a detonator, glue and drinking straws." He said the pair also talked about "items such as nail polish remover, powder from match heads, electrical wiring, the use of batteries, sulphuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, ice packs and alarm clocks." They also spoke about fertiliser and compared its ammonium nitrate content with sports injury cold packs. The court has previously heard that they posed as charity collectors, gathering £12,100 in donations to fund the attack, but lost £9,149 of it after engaging in foreign currency trading. Loan attempts Further details of their alleged attempts to gather funds were revealed on Wednesday. The men and an accomplice applied for loans worth a total of £33,000 from two branches of Barclays bank in Birmingham. Mr Ali tried to get £15,000 from one branch by claiming he was starting a double-glazing business, the court was told. Mr Altman said: "Ali was overheard by a surveillance officer who was inside the bank claiming dishonestly that he was registering a double glazing company called A Ali, which he told the personal advisor had started trading on the previous Friday." Rahim Ahmed, the associate who lost the group's money in the currency trading, tried to get £20,000 from a payday loan company in September last year, but was rejected because he did not meet lending criteria, the court heard. The prosecution said he then asked Mr Naseer to reimburse him a £69.50 administration fee he had paid just to be assessed. Training camps Mr Naseer and Mr Khalid are accused of travelling to Pakistan for training in terrorism, and it is alleged that Mr Naseer also helped others to travel to the country for the same purpose. The court was told that members of the Muslim community put pressure on the three men after finding out they were sending people to Pakistan for terror training. Three out of four men sent to Pakistan came home early after their families and a community leader intervened. The court heard that Mr Naseer devised a cover story about them studying at a religious school recommended by him. "Of course, Naseer did not go to Pakistan to study," Mr Altman said. "He went to train in aspects of terror along with Khalid. Here he gives a story which covers the travellers but also himself." The court heard the four younger men were told to say that they had not liked the schools - where students were beaten, the food was bad and buildings invested by rats - and came home for that reason. The trial continues. BBC News - Terror trial: 'Suicide bombers ready to take on England' |
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| 25 October 2012 Last updated at 20:36 Terror trial: Estranged wife wanted to be 'fourth lion' The estranged wife of a man accused of plotting a terror attack offered herself as a helper in an attempt to win him back, a court has heard. In a reference to the spoof film Four Lions, Salma Kabal asked Ashik Ali if she could be the "fourth lion", Woolwich Crown Court was told. Brian Altman, QC, prosecuting, said she was snubbed by him and is not on trial. Mr Ali, 27, Irfan Khalid, 27, and Irfan Naseer, 31, all from Birmingham, deny preparing for terrorist acts. The jury has heard the trio planned to set off a series of suicide bombs in an attack which prosecutors said would have dwarfed the 7 July 2005 bombings in London and two of the men had received terror training in Pakistan. Mr Altman told the jury Ms Kabal did not know what the group were planning as Mr Ali withheld details from her. 'Lioness' She offered to be the "lioness" of the group, the court heard. Mr Ali told his wife he wanted to fight the jihad - or holy war - overseas but did not want to get her involved, the court heard. Mr Ali said he still loved her but said he did not think she could adapt to fight the jihad abroad, and made reference to drone strikes, the court heard. Mr Altman said the group made reference to the film Four Lions, in which a group of incompetent terrorists wear fancy dress in a comedy plot, and Mr Ali laughingly told his wife: "Oh, you think this is a flipping Four Lions. We're one man short, there's three of us. We ain't Four Lions yet." Ms Kabal replied: "I'll be your fourth one." Mr Ali said: "You can't be the fourth one." Ms Kabal said: "Lioness." Mr Altman said: "That may be the arithmetic in the context of the film title, but the comment, couched in a joke, and made in order to divert her, is telling. "It is telling because it reveals, we suggest, the truth, that there were three of them together but they were not planning a trip abroad to fight jihad." The prosecution claims Mr Naseer and Mr Khalid went to the Taliban stronghold of Waziristan, in Pakistan, in the summer of 2011 for training. In another echo of a plotline in the 2010 film, Mr Ali joked with his wife about blowing up Muslims in Birmingham, the court heard. 'Vaseline plot' As Ms Kabal tried to ask him again about his alleged plans, Mr Ali said: "The General Saab, you know, the command we send from high above, innit, hierarchy is that you should blow your Muslims up man, yeah. "Blow up all the Muslims around Alum Rock up innit and Washwood Heath and Aston". The court heard the group discussed various alternatives to a bomb attack, including mixing poisons into Vaseline or Nivea and then rubbing it on car doors, in an attempt to kill "about 1,000 people". In a bugged conversation, the court heard, Mr Naseer recalled: "You know like the door handles on a whole, imagine putting it on whole like area innit overnight and when they come in the morning to work they start touching the, they open the door and then five minutes they die man, all of them start dying and that, kill about 1,000 people." Mr Naseer denies five counts, Mr Khalid four and Mr Ali three, all between Christmas Day 2010 and 19 September 2011. The trial continues. BBC News - Terror trial: Estranged wife wanted to be 'fourth lion' |
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| Non-Muslims have 'sex like donkeys' and deserve to be blown-up, said 'terror plot' leader Westerners have 'sex like donkeys' so 'why shouldn't we terrorise them?' the alleged leader of a terror plot was recorded saying. By Tom Whitehead, Security Editor 12:04PM BST 25 Oct 2012 The leader of alleged suicide bomb plot said non-believers deserved to be attacked because they “have sex like donkeys”, orgies and took drugs, a court heard. Ifan Naseer said the whole world was **** and people deserved to be terrorized. The al-Qaeda inspired gang is accused of plotting to use eight suicide bombers detonating rucksacks packed with explosives in crowded places to cause “mass death” and carnage on the streets of Britain. Naseer, 31, Irfan Khalid, 27, and Ashik Ali, 27, all unemployed from Birmingham, are the alleged “senior members” of the group and were among 12 people arrested and charged last year. Naseer, a trained chemist and alleged ringleader, was secretly recorded by the police trying to justify the plot. He said: “You know the main thing is bro all this world is **** bro, you like know what it is the only thing which is good yeah, is Allah’s Deen (faith).” Criticising others, he went on: “They wanna you know have sex like donkeys on the street, they wanna club, act like animals and why shouldn’t we terrorise them, tell me that?” “No, you think about it, if someone came in your house yeah and started dancing and throughout the night and started basically having orgies and smoking drugs and stuff, yeah, would you do Sabr (Patience) or would you look, you would, you would terrorise them ainit, yeah, there you go, so it’s on Allah’s earth, it’s Allah’s earth, then Allah created it, everybody and Allah gave you everything as well, then you tell me that one.” Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, told the jury: “He is disdainful of Western values so why should he not terrorise them.” Naseer also raised the prospect of a second wave of suicide bombers after his group’s plot. At one stage Naseer is explaining the destruction just a small bomb weighing 1kg could do, “especially if shrapnel like nuts or nails were sellotaped to it”, Woolwich Crown Court heard. He said: “You put it in the middle (of a street) both ways people at both ends would be harmed.” He added that “you probably kill about 25 people with one kg one” and “injure about 60, 50”. Naseer also spoke about using bombs on timers with an alarm clock. The secret recording was played to the jury, the first time they had heard Naseer's voice. He said the "kuffars" - non-believers - would wet themselves and "probably die of a heart attack" because of the noise, which is as loud as "50 bullets together". Naseer also talked about 7 or 8 bombs on different places with timers to all go off at the same time. "Boom boom boom everywhere", he said. Yesterday it emerged that the cell applied for “pay day loans” to help fund their plot and were worried about exorbitant interest rates suggesting they would not be around to pay it back. The gang, from Birmingham, also looked in to bank loans worth between £15,000 and £18,000, Woolwich Crown Court heard. The group also planned to set up an Islamic learning centre to act as a “beautiful cover” and a mystery benefactor had offered £50,000 to help set it up although he did not know about the terror plot. At the time, the men were based at a property in White Street, Birmingham, and when police raided it they discovered evidence of plans to make a bomb. A partially burnt note was discovered contained formulae and diagrams, Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, told the jury. Naseer, who has a pharmacy degree, was recorded talking about items needed including quantities of chemicals, syringes to be used to create a detonator, glue and drinking straws. He also discussed nail polish remover, powder from match heads, electrical wiring, the use of batteries, sulphuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, ice packs and alarm clocks. They planned to extract ammonium nitrate from sports injury cold packs, the jury was told. The trial continues. Non-Muslims have 'sex like donkeys' and deserve to be blown-up, said 'terror plot' leader - Telegraph |
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| British 'terror gang boasted about hitting David Cameron' A British Muslim terror cell boasted about “hitting” David Cameron, his friends and other non-believers in the “land of Satan”. By Tom Whitehead, Security Editor 2:51PM BST 26 Oct 2012 The al-Qaeda inspired group, from Birmingham, is accused of planning a suicide bombing campaign by exploding eight rucksacks packed with explosives in public places. One of the alleged ringleaders was secretly recorded by police justifying an attack, Woolwich Crown Court heard. Irfan Khalid, 27, said: “You think about it, you’re hitting his friends, in their home his friends innit these were Cameron and everyone they’re his friends.” He added: “We’re doing it in the land of the shay-tan (satan) in the belly’s whale (sic). “This is going to shake them all, all the Kaffir (non-believers) that go to the pub and that.” Later, the group watched video footage of Mr Cameron stood next to a Muslim scholar. Khalid is heard saying: “Who are you telling us, you uncircumcised woman?” Khalid, 31, Irfan Naseer, 27, and Ashik Ali, 27, all unemployed from Birmingham, were among 12 people arrested and charged last year. The trio deny between them a total of 12 terror charges including planning a bombing campaign, recruiting others for terrorism and terrorism fundraising. The jury heard how Naseer and Khalid had made martyrdom videos while undergoing alleged terror training in Pakistan, to be released after their deaths. Telling other group members what he had said in his video, Naseer said: “Like one part we’re ‘You people think that by making these cartoons of the prophets (reference to the row over the Danish cartoons) you’re going to be deface him. “No you’ll never achieve this only thing you will achieve, is suicide bombers on your streets spilling so much blood that you will remember you’ll have nightmares for the rest of your miserable lives”.” In another conversation, Khalid says: “This is revenge for everything, what we’re doing is another 9 1 1, Inshallah.” Naseer, also known as Chubbs, also talked about buying five AK47 assault rifles by borrowing £100,000 in loans, Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, said. He also boasted how he could buy a grenade for £1,500 and a M16 assault rifle. He added that al-Qaeda’s “main aim” was for more people to take a stance in Europe “so they can start whacking you there”. The court heard how the three men were arrested on September 18 last year while driving around Birmingham. On arrest, Ali said: “I am not a terrorist. I am a civilian. Just because I have a beard does not make me a terrorist.” The trial continues British 'terror gang boasted about hitting David Cameron' - Telegraph |
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| Terror plot ringleaders were not serious and would probably "calm down", court hears A senior member of a terror plot to attack the UK with eight suicide bombers thought it was not serious because he assumed his co-conspirators would eventually “get married” and “calm down”, a court heard. By Tom Whitehead, Security Editor 12:59PM GMT 29 Oct 2012 Ashik Ali, 27, one of the alleged “senior members” of the terror cell said he only went along with the plot because he thought his co-accused plans would “fade” away. He admitted in police interview following his arrest that his role was to wear a suicide vest and carry a gun but claimed he did not plan to go through with it, Woolwich Crown Court heard. The al – Qaeda inspired group is accused of planning a suicide bombing campaign by detonating eight rucksacks packed with explosives in public places. Ali, Irfan Khalid, 27 and Irfan Naseer, 31, all unemployed from Birmingham, were among 12 people arrested and charged last year. The three deny 12 terror charges between them, including planning a bombing campaign, recruiting others for terrorism and terrorism fund – raising. The court heard that Naseer and Khalid made martyrdom videos during alleged terror training in Pakistan Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, said Ali told police that Naseer and Khalid had returned from Pakistan “radicalised”. “He did not want to say what they had been planning. He said he had thought ‘give it time and they will open a shop and get married’. “He told police that the plan had been “’to put on a jacket and have a gun”’. What he said he meant was a suicide vest and that he would shoot people with the gun.” He said Ali later said: “In so far as Naseer and Khalid were concerned, ‘they were not going to blow up some place or kill people straightaway’; they wanted to open a shop and in time they would calm down.” Bringing a week-long opening speech to a close, Mr Altman said: “In interview each of these defendants lied about their intentions and purpose, not having the courage to confront the truth of the action they had been planning, which through painstaking work by the authorities had been nipped in the bud. "Only Ashik Ali came close, but sought to avoid his responsibility." The court heard last week how the Muslim terror cell boasted about "hitting" David Cameron, his friends and other non – believers in the "land of Satan". The jury also heard that in one description of his martyrdom video, Naseer referenced the Danish cartoons of Mohammed. He said such acts would only result in "suicide bombers" spilling so much blood "you'll have nightmares for the rest of your miserable lives". Mr Naseer talked about buying five AK47 assault rifles by borrowing £100,000 and claimed he could buy a grenade for £1,500 and an M16 assault rifle. Naseer claimed al – Qaeda's "main aim" was for more people to take a stance in Europe "so they can start whacking you there". On their arrest last year, Ali denied being a terrorist, adding that having "a beard does not make me a terrorist". The trial continues. Terror plot ringleaders were not serious and would probably "calm down", court hears - Telegraph |
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1 February 2013 Last updated at 15:47 Birmingham men guilty of mass bomb plot  Three would-be suicide bombers who plotted to carry out an attack to rival the 7 July and 9/11 atrocities have been found guilty of terrorism charges. Related Stories The joker who wanted to be a bomber Trio 'were real deal' Watch Bomb plotters in their own words Irfan Naseer, 31, Irfan Khalid, 27, and Ashik Ali, 27, from Birmingham, were found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of being "central figures" in the plan. Jurors were told they planned to set off up to eight bombs in rucksacks, using timers to detonate the charges. Police described the men as "committed, passionate extremists". The trio were arrested in 2011 amid fears an attack was imminent. Detectives believe it is the most significant terror plot to be uncovered since the 2006 conspiracy to blow up transatlantic airliners using bombs disguised as soft drinks. Khalid even boasted that the attack was "another 9/11" and "revenge for everything". 'Charity workers' The three men were found guilty of 12 counts of preparing for acts of terrorism between December 2010 and their arrest in September the following year.
The jury heard that Naseer and Khalid had received training from al-Qaeda contacts in Pakistan - and had recorded martyrdom videos there before returning to the UK. Having recruited others, the group posed as legitimate charity workers on the streets of Birmingham and collected thousands of pounds from unsuspecting members of the public. Naseer played a key role in sending four other Birmingham men to Pakistan to receive training. All of these have already pleaded guilty to preparing for acts of terrorism: Ishaaq Hussain, 21, Shahid Khan, 21, Naweed Ali, 25, and Khobaib Hussain, 22. Two other Birmingham men who were part of Naseer and Khalid's plans, Rahin Ahmed, 27, and Mujahid Hussain, 21, have also pleaded guilty to terrorism charges. The judge told the men they would all face life in prison when they were sentenced in April or May. Mr Justice Henriques told Naseer he had been convicted on "overwhelming evidence" and that he faced "a very long minimum term". He said: "You were seeking to recruit a team of somewhere between six and eight suicide bombers to carry out a spectacular bombing campaign, one which would create an anniversary along the lines of 7/7 or 9/11. It's clear that you were planning a terrorist outrage in Birmingham." Surveillance recordings BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani said the convictions represented a major success for counter-terrorism officers in the West Midlands who, along with MI5, ran one of the largest undercover operations in recent years to identity the plotters and Nine men in all have been convicted as a result of the investigation. Asst Chief Constable Beale: "They were out to cause some serious harm" The jury heard that the security services had the men under such close surveillance that they recorded them laughing and joking about their plans and how they did not need to worry about their car's MOT, because they would be dead by the time it expired. The men were arrested after recorded conversations revealed Naseer's depth of knowledge about bomb-making and the three discussed time frames for attacking targets. They had discussed targets while under surveillance but had not settled on a final plan. During his police interview, Ali told detectives that they wanted to wear explosive vests and had considered attacking British soldiers. The trial heard the men were inspired by sermons of US-born Islamist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed in Yemen in September 2011. 'Maim and kill' Karen Jones, specialist counter-terrorism prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "These men had dangerous aspirations and whilst the precise targets remained unclear, the potential for damage and loss of life from their plot should not be underestimated. "The evidence we put to the court showed the defendants discussing with awe and admiration the attacks of 9/11 and 7/7. These terrorists wanted to do something bigger, speaking of how 7/7 had 'gone a bit wrong'." The men carried out fraudulent charity collecting on the streets of Birmingham Detective Inspector Adam Gough of West Midlands Police led the investigation into the men. "There's no doubt whatsoever that they were the real deal," he said. "They are committed, passionate extremists. They had a real stated intention to kill and maim as many people as they possibly can. More than that, they not only had that intention, but they had the capacity and training to make that intention a reality. "Naseer is a very devious and calculating man. He is someone who had a real hatred of western values, someone who wants to bring his influence to others and a compulsive liar. A very dangerous man." Irfan Naseer told the trial that the hours of secret recordings of him talking about terrorism and bomb-making were all nonsense. He said he had pretended to be a terrorist because he wanted to end rumours in his local community that he was a Pakistani spy. Ashik Ali denied wanting to be a terrorist. Irfan Khalid did not give evidence in his defence.
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| Birmingham terror gang who thought 7/7 was not deadly enough found guilty Chemistry graduate led trio of would-be suicide bombers inspired by al-Qaida who plotted 'murder on a horrendous scale' Sandra Laville and Vikram Dodd The Guardian, Friday 22 February 2013  Al-Qaida inspired British Islamic extremists Ashik Ali, Irfan Khalid and Irfan Naseer who were found guilty of plotting a campaign of bombings in crowded areas. Three would-be suicide bombers face life in jail after a jury convicted them on Thursday of plotting to carry out terror attacks in the UK which would have been more deadly than the 7/7 bombings in 2005. The men from Birmingham are the latest group of British-based extremists to be radicalised by the preachings of the now-dead Anwar al-Awlaki, the one-time leader of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. His extremist message continues to be spread from beyond the grave through the English language terror manual he created, Inspire magazine, which is still disseminated via internet forums despite robust attempts by the security services in the UK and abroad to stop it. Videos of sermons by Awlaki were still available late Thursday on YouTube. The men's plans to create their own 9/11 by making bombs from sports injury cold pack treatments were thwarted by the biggest counter-terror operation mounted in the UK for seven years, which at times involved more than 400 officers and agents. Convicted on Thursday by a jury at Woolwich crown court, London, of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist attacks, the three were key figures in a terror cell in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham. They aimed to detonate eight to 10 suicide bombs and timed explosive devices that prosecutors said could have caused "death and injury on a massive scale". Six other members of the cell had earlier pleaded guilty. The ringleaders, chemistry graduate Irfan Naseer, 31, and Irfan Khalid, 27, both from Sparkhill had travelled to Pakistan twice for training – on the second occasion spending two months at an al-Qaida training facility in Miran Shah, in north Waziristan, where they had to flee from American drone strikes. They recruited Ashik Ali, 27, from Balsall Heath in Birmingham, on their return, and began to draw others into the plot. They duped members of the public into donating thousands of pounds to fund their terror plot by posing as collectors for the charity Muslim Aid in Sparkhill. Within two weeks they raised £14,500, which they diverted to fund their activities. Police in the West Midlands defended the reach of the government's multimillion pound anti-terror strategy, Prevent, at the conclusion of the trial. Despite millions of pounds being spent in the Sparkhill area relatives and friends of some of those involved who became suspicious chose to take action themselves rather than pass information to the police. Mr Justice Henriques told the guilty men it was clear they were planning to carry out a spectacular bombing campaign and that they would all face life in prison when they are sentenced in April or May. Speaking to Naseer, the judge said he had been convicted on "overwhelming evidence" and that he would face "a very long minimum term". He said: "You are a highly skilled bomb maker and explosives expert. Your mindset was similarly manifest. You were seeking to recruit a team of somewhere between six and eight suicide bombers to carry out a spectacular bombing campaign, one which would create an anniversary along the lines of 7/7 or 9/11." Khalid he said was was "very much his (Naseer's) confidant and his right-hand man." Of Ali, the judge said he "intelligent, devious and highly manipulative." Marcus Beale, assistant commissioner of West Midlands police, who worked with the security services to intercept the plot, said: "This group was critical of the 7 July bombers because they didn't kill enough people. If they delivered on the plans that they had they would have committed mass murder on a horrendous scale." However, there was evidence that the men were struggling to get the ingredients for their plot and no targets were identified by the police or security services. When arrested they were found in possession of just one sports cold pack kit which did not contain the key ingredient for the bombs, ammonium nitrate, because the substance is no longer used in the products. Beale defended the role of Prevent. Relatives and friends were aware that four followers of Naseer, Khalid and Ali had travelled to train in Pakistan in 2011, but instead of contacting the police they successfully used their own contacts in the country to get the men to return home. Beale said: "It would be fantastic if more information would come from the community. But if my child was going off the rails I would definitely be wanting to help them myself first rather than go the police and any parent would want to do the same so I would not want to be critical." Naseer and Khalid built their plot on their return from the training camp in Miran Shah, in the summer of 2011. They shared their knowledge of bomb making with Ali, who rented a council flat which became a makeshift bomb factory and the hub of the plot. Experts told the court they could have created a viable device. But unknown to the men they were being watched by the police and security services who had placed bugs in two cars and the bomb factory which picked up the plot being described as another 9/11. At one point the three men were heard driving in a car mimicking Formula One commentator Murray Walker, and joking: "It's the four suicide bombers driving around ready to take on England." Khalid also said of the plot: "This is going to kick them all, the [infidels] that go to the pub and that; they have hit us in our own country, my God they hit us." Naseer was found guilty of five counts of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist attacks, Khalid of four and Ali of three counts – all between Christmas Day 2010 and 19 September 2011. They are the latest group of British-based extremists to take their inspiration from American-born Awlaki, the Yemen-based cleric who was a leader of AQAP until he was killed by a US drone in September 2011. Other extremists who have used his sermons and Inspire magazine to self-radicalise include Roshonara Choudhry, who attacked the MP Stephen Timms, and four terrorists from Birmingham who were convicted in 2012 of plotting to blow up the London Stock Exchange. A search of Ali's house after his arrest uncovered a vast library of lectures by Awlaki. One of the plans discussed by the three – of attaching blades to the wheels of cars in order to mow down pedestrians – came directly from Inspire, the second edition of which describes how to create "the ultimate mowing machine". Sue Hemming, head of special crime and counter-terrorism in the CPS, said: "A considerable number of investigations have uncovered connection to and support for the teachings of … Awlaki...his pernicious and hateful views unfortunately live on in his recorded speeches and Inspire magazine." Keith Vaz MP, chair of the home affairs committee, criticised YouTube over Awlaki material being on the site. "Youtube should not be hosting this material. Material which incites violent radicalism should not be on Youtube. They should be much more proactive in taking it down without waiting for complaints." Azad Ali, chair of the Muslim Safety Forum which has worked with the police to combat Jihadi violence, said that if Awlaki material was found in a book shop a proseuction wouldme made, saying: "Youtube is hosting the same material and there seems to be no action taken against it at all.. YouTube said: "YouTube has Community Guidelines that prohibit dangerous or illegal activities such as bomb-making, hate speech, and incitement to commit violent acts, and we take violations of these guidelines seriously. Our review teams respond to flagged videos around the clock, routinely removing material under those policies. Our flagging tools include a flag labeled "promotes terrorism" to make it easier for our users to identify content that incites violence." |
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How 'Just Do It’ bomb plotters planned attacks as MI5 followed their every move By Tom Whitehead, Security Editor 12:03AM GMT 22 Feb 2013 Up to eight suicide bombers carrying backpacks filled with explosives and armed with guns were to carry out attacks mirroring both the July 7 bombings and Mumbai attacks. The jihadi gang planned to walk into crowded, public places shooting indiscriminately before detonating their bombs. Although no targets had been chosen, the 2012 Olympics may have been considered, along with soldiers based in this country. The gang also talked of “hitting” David Cameron’s friends. The plot was the most significant since the plans to blow up transatlantic aircraft with liquid bombs in 2006 and would almost certainly have led to the largest loss of life in a terrorist attack in Britain. The ringleader, Irfan Naseer, 31, even criticised the July 7 suicide bombers, who left 52 innocent people dead, for not doing “enough damage”. He was secretly recorded talking of “seven or eight in different places with timers on at the same time, boom boom boom”. His deputy, Irfan Khalid, 27, talked about “revenge for everything, another 9/11”, adding: “It’s the four suicide bombers driving around ready to take on England.” He talked of turning a Birmingham road into a “little war zone”. Ashik Ali provided the gang’s safe house and bomb factory at his council flat. Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, told Woolwich Crown Court that the attacks would have led to “maximum death and destruction” and “carnage in the name of Allah”. The driving force behind the plot was the “two Irfans”. Naseer was called “chubba’” or “big Irfan” because of his size, while Khalid was “little Irfan”. Naseer, a pharmacy graduate, came up with the idea of extracting ammonium nitrate from dozens of sports injury cold packs to develop the main charge for an explosive. He used gyms, a charity shop and a mosque to recruit the rest of his terrorist cell from among the back-to-back houses of Sparkhill in Birmingham. He met his two co-defendants at premises known as the 24/7 Gym in 2007 and 2008, before later joining a second club, the Darul Ihsaan (Place of Excellence), where further gang members were recruited. The two Irfans travelled to Pakistan in March 2009 and returned in December 2010 for what became a far more significant trip. After three months in Karachi they established contact with al-Qaeda in Miranshah, a town in the unruly province of North Waziristan. They spent up to three months there, including 40 days of intensive terrorist training learning how to make bombs, use firearms and develop poisons. They made martyrdom videos to be released on their deaths in which Naseer explained that the attacks would have been in revenge for the Danish cartoons that mocked the prophet Mohammed. The videos were never recovered but Naseer was secretly recorded telling his colleagues what he had said. “You people think that by making these cartoons of the Prophet, peace be upon him, you are going to defame him. No you’ll never achieve this,” he said. “The only thing you will achieve is suicide bombers on your streets spilling so much blood that you will remember, you will have nightmares for the rest of your lives.” But MI5 had picked up on the Irfans before their second trip to Pakistan and, with the West Midlands counter-terrorism unit, watched their every move on their return in June 2011. Once back, the Irfans began recruiting others to their cause and raising money to fund the plot and send others to Pakistan. It is believed they raised at least £20,000 during street collections in Birmingham in which they claimed to be raising money for Muslim Aid. Just £1,500 was handed over to the charity. They were joined by Ali, 27, Rahin Ahmed, Mujahid Hussain and one other. Ahmed, 28, was the chief fund-raiser and the gang planned to open a religious shop to act as a “beautiful cover” for their activities. But the move had to be abandoned when Ahmed invested £12,000 in the foreign exchange markets and over the space of two weeks lost £9,000. He previously pleaded guilty to encouraging acts of terrorism, collecting money for terrorism and assisting others to travel to Pakistan for terrorist training. Operations were instead centred on [Ashik] Ali’s flat, where the police and MI5 installed listening devices. [Ashik] Ali and the two Irfans were already earmarked as suicide bombers and now others were recruited at Darul Ihsaan — Ishaaq Hussain, 20, Shahid Khan, 20, Naweed Ali, 24, and Khobaib Hussain, 20 — and sent to Pakistan for training. Their trip ended almost as soon as it began after family members discovered what was happening and relations were sent to bring them back. All four have pleaded guilty to travelling to Pakistan for terrorist training. Despite the setback, the Irfans and Ashik Ali proceeded as planned. They bought a sports cold pack from which they planned to extract ammonium nitrate and develop a bomb. Naseer wrote down the ingredients and formula for making the device, and produced a diagram for a detonator. Experts said it would have made a viable bomb. Ali was told to destroy the note but only partly burned it and the discarded remains were found when the cell was arrested in September 2011. What the group had not realised was that the cold pack they bought contained a different chemical that would have made any bomb unviable. The cell also discussed mixing poisons in hand cream and smearing it on car and door handles to kill “a thousand people”. Khalid talked about putting blades on the front of a car and driving it into a crowd — known in an al-Qaeda magazine as the “ultimate mowing machine”. They also joked about driving around as suicide bombers and were heard pretending to be Formula One commentators and racing against Jenson Button and Nigel Mansell. Lectures from Anwar al-Awlaki, the al-Qaeda chief killed by a drone strike in Yemen in 2011, were found on a laptop and there was a copy of the martyrdom video made by Siddique Khan, the July 7 bomber. Awlaki’s urging of independent fanatics to “Just Do It” has led to such people being called “Nike terrorists”. Naseer said non-believers deserved to be attacked because they “have sex like donkeys” and took drugs. They even joked about being the “Three Lions” in reference to the film Four Lions about hapless would-be suicide bombers. Mujahid Hussian, 21, and two other men, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were being encouraged to be suicide bombers. Hussain has pleaded guilty to a charge of fund-raising and failing to inform the authorities. The other two will stand trial at a later date.
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| British gang plotted a deadlier atrocity than 7/7 using Afghan- style roadside bombs Irfan Naseer, 31, Irfan Khalid, 27, and Ashik Ali, 27, wanted 'to rival 9/11' Ringleaders spent years travelling to Pakistan for 'terror training' They wanted mass murder in shopping centres, cinemas and train stations Al-Qaeda backed group made videos to play after they blew themselves up The terrorists raised funds by posing as bogus charity workers in street Plotted 'spectacular campaign' from makeshift bomb factory in council flat Eight suicide bombers would have claimed more lives than 7/7, police say But deadly plan was discovered after bugs were planted in Birmingham flat Police then found explosives in Midlands when plot was at advanced stage By David Williams PUBLISHED: 23:08, 21 February 2013 | UPDATED: 00:34, 22 February 2013 In the towering shadow of Pakistan’s Black Mountain, Irfan Naseer and Irfan Khalid were trained to assemble the deadly IEDs that are the scourge of British soldiers. The home-grown terrorists learned the tradecraft of mass murder that they wanted to bring to the shopping centres, cinemas and train stations of Britain. The pair had originally flown to Karachi but made their way to the training camp after meeting other fundamentalists in the madrasas of the city. Inside one of the anonymous white washed houses and compounds that dot the hillside, they were taught to mix chemicals and ingredients from ordinary household items.  Plot: Irfan Khalid and Irfan Naseer arrive at Birmingham airport before heading to Pakistan for terrorist training  Training camps: Khalid and Naseer (pictured with the trolley) were caught on CCTV going back and forth to Pakistan from Birmingham Airport to receive instruction on plotting their attack on Britain From nail polish remover, bleach and fertiliser, they made crude bombs. Then, in the vast open spaces of the tribal lands 140 miles north of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, they were shown by Al Qaeda-linked bomb-makers how to detonate the devices, fire Kalishnikovs and use poisons, as well as being made to undergo exhaustive physical exercise. Once back in the UK they tried to create a new kind of improvised explosive device from the ingredients of cold packs used to ease swelling on bruised or injured joints. But they didn’t release that the ingredients had been changed because of fears they may be misused.  Collecting for terror: Irfan Naseer left and Irfan Khalid holding bucket undertake bogus charity collections in Birmingham to secretly raise funds for their bombing campaign Irfan Naseer, 31, Irfan Khalid, 27, and Ashik Ali, 27, all from Birmingham, were convicted at Woolwich Crown Court of planning to set off up to eight bombs hidden in rucksacks.  Watched: The group were under surveillance 24 hours a day by MI5 and the police, pictured here returning from a trip to a camp in Pakistan   Charity funded terror: The men posed as fundraisers for a Muslim charity (left) then used the cash to pay for bomb devices such as this alarm clock (right) Instead of ammonium nitrate, which can be transformed into a potent explosive, the packs were filled with relatively harmless urea, a key constituent of urine. The gang had hoped to carry the devices in rucksacks or hide them in bags and detonate them using suicide bombers or remote timers. When police raided the bomb factory, they discovered a sample sports pack had been carefully taken apart and the contents laid on a tray. In a bin was a partially burned handwritten note which, when analysed, contained identical formulas for bombs used against British troops in Afghanistan. Discussing the plot, Naseer said: ‘Seven or eight of them in different places with timers on... all for the same time probably to go boom, boom, boom everywhere.’ He estimated that a 1kg device, easily carried in a bag, would kill 25 and injure up to 70 people, especially if wrapped with metal bolts to create deadly shrapnel. But it was in Pakistan – some 3,800 miles from their Birmingham homes and their intended targets – that the Britons were turned into trained killers. The rugged Black Mountain or the Kala Dhaka region of Pakistan’s North West Frontier province was one of three principal areas they visited to meet fellow radicals and receive training during two lengthy visits to the country. On the first of their extended visits in March 2009, Naseer and Khalid received at least eight days intensive training and additional radicalisation and religious instruction. That rose to 40 on the second visit between December 2010 and July 2011. Plotters: (top left to bottom right) Ishaaq Hussain, Rahin Ahmed, Naweed Ali, Mujahid Hussain, Khobaib Hussain, and Ishaaq Hussain have been implicated in the biggest attack planned on British soil 'for a generation' In Karachi, the Britons studied at madrasas attached to two mosques with other radicalised young men, including several foreigners. Both mosques, which are said to receive large donations and funding from wealthy supporters in the UK, have links to Jaish e Mohammad or Army of Mohammad, a jihadi group branded a terrorist organisation by the UK and US. It was formed to wage a proxy war against India over the disputed territory of Kashmir. The group have successfully cultivated important relationships with other prominent jihadi organisations including Al Qaeda, the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was said to have trained the terrorists who carried out the 2008 attack on Mumbai hotels.  Probe: Police raided properties all over Birmingham, including this safe house, which was full of bomb-making equipment and documents detailing how to make them  Safe house: The trio were based at this property in White Street, Birmingham, and used as the headquarters for their terror cell  Explosive: Police uncovered a variety of powders and liquids, including this 'cold pack' in the dingy house  Destroying the evidence: Police found this burnt note that detailed the bomb-making   Bomb-making equipment: Police discovered a variety of ordinary domestic equipment including granules to keep material cold (left) and a pharmaceutical syringe (right) Officials in Pakistan say their bomb makers were among those believed to have tutored Naseer and Khalid in making explosives while they studied the Koran with their clerics. Tens of thousands of young British men visit Pakistan each year genuinely to study or stay with relatives. Naseer and Khalid told police they visited family in the Punjab, close to the Kashmir area, where investigators believe they met trainers – underlining the huge problems facing anti-terror investigators in the UK.  Fundraising: Irfan Naseer, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali held table top sales in Birmingham where the cash raised would be secretly siphoned off to pay for trips to Pakistan  Surveillance: MI5 had been watching the terror group and had planted a bug in their Hinda Civic where they were heard boasting about the atrocity they planned  Shopping: Ashik Ali was watched buying curtains from Argos as part the sophisticated spying operation by the British secret services But by the time of their second visit Naseer and Khalid were ‘on the radar’ of MI5 and Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence agency. They went to the Waziristan area skirting Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, where Taliban and Al Qaeda trainers are active. They also went to the hills above the Tattapani region of disputed Kashmir, for years a hub of Jaish e Mohammad’s activities. It was while in Waziristan that the Britons faced what investigators called ‘a wake-up call to the reality of the region’ which has become the focus of controversial drone attacks by the US. For four hours Nasser and Khalid cowered beneath the camouflage of trees while a drone had circled overhead.  Late night: Officers pulled the terrorists over as they drove to a takeaway just before midnight  Prosecution: Ashik Ali was taken from the car and is detained along with the two other men who were all found guilty of terrorism offences at Woolwich Crown Court today  Capture: West Midlands Police arrested the three men in Birmingham after intercepting them in their VW as they drove through the city in September 2011 Naseer was secretly recorded by MI5 recalling: ‘If I have to stay here for another hour, I will pray that I get hit by a drone.’ Partially because of the success of the drones, fixed training camps no longer exist in areas like Warizistan or Kala Dhaka. Instead, they are set-up in rural and isolated spots to be used only once. Religious instruction and physical training are always included and like other convicted British jihadists, the two Britons underwent exhausting fitness training – running repeatedly up hills. The month after their return four fellow would-be British suicide bombers from the cell they hoped to create travelled to Pakistan for terrorist training. They were Naweed Ali, 24, Ishaaq Hussain, 20, Khobaib Hussain, 20, and Shahid Khan, 20. Three of the young men came back to Britain within days after the family of one of them discovered where they had gone and arranged for their return. The fourth apparently stayed on in Pakistan with family until October.  Scam: CCTV shows Rahin Ahmed depositing charity money they had fraudulently taken at a Barclays Bank in Moseley, Birmingham  Trips: Khobaib Hussain and Naweed Ali are shown here sitting and waiting for a flight from Birmingham Airport British gang plotted a deadlier atrocity than 7/7 using Afghan- style roadside bombs | Mail Online |
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| Estranged wife of terrorist 'joked about jihad parody film Four Lions with him knowing he planned to blow himself up too' Salma Kabal, 23, accused of knowing that her husband Ashik Ali, 28, was planning a terror attack to rival 9/11 She was allegedly secretly recorded discussing the attacks with him at a terrorist safe house Court hears she sent a text about Four Lions satire being shown as she tried to rekindle her romance with him Her husband Ashik already convicted of being one of the ringleaders of the plot along with Irfan Khalid, 28, and Irfan Naseer, 31 Bahader Ali, 29, and Mohammed Rizwan, 34, plead guilty to being part of the conspiracy today By Rob Cooper PUBLISHED: 12:03, 10 April 2013 | UPDATED: 18:31, 10 April 2013 The estranged wife of a terrorist joked about a Jihad parody movie with him, knowing he wanted to blow himself up like the bombers in the film, a court heard. Salma Kabal, 23, was aware husband Ashik Ali and his accomplices were plotting a string of suicide attacks across Britain but failed to report it to police, it is alleged. She was allegedly secretly recorded discussing the attacks with Ali at the terrorist's safe house in Birmingham. During the conversations she joked that she would be the fourth lion - or 'lioness' in a reference to Chris Morris satire 'Four Lions'.  Terror trial: Salma Kabal, 23, was aware husband Ashik Ali and his accomplices were plotting a string of suicide attacks across Britain but failed to report it to police, the court heard On another occasion Kabal sent her husband a text message which said that the film was being shown on Channel 4 as she tried to rekindle their romance. Prosecutors say she knew of the murderous campaign he was planning, replying 'I understand' when Ali suggested a Ramadan observation may be his last, Woolwich Crown Court heard. 'She had information she should have told police about in order to prevent acts of terrorism that she believed were going to take place,' said prosecutor Stuart Baker. 'Salma Kabal was married to Ashik Ali, but at the time we are concerned with, she was separated from him. 'But it is clear that she was trying to get back together with him.' Transcripts of the married couple discussing their relationship in the safe house on September 17, 2011 were shown to the jury.  Terror plot: Ashik Ali, 27, was recorded discussing the film Four Lions with his estranged wife, the court heard. He has been convicted of terror charges Ali is heard arguing with Kabal that she does not believe the terrorist plot is serious, but later they share a light-hearted exchange on the issue. 'Oh, you think this is a flipping Four Lions', Ali told his wife. 'We're one man short, there's three of us. We ain't Four Lions yet'. Kabal replied: 'I'll be your fourth one', before adding 'Lioness' when Ali says she cannot join their cell. During the conversation she begged Ali to resume their relationship despite knowing he was planning to kill himself within two years, the court heard. She asked him to father a child with her, having suffered a miscarriage with his first baby, and refused to accept his plan for her to marry someone else. During three exchanges shown to the jury, Kabal said: 'It's up to me, I'm not stupid. I'm not a kid, I'm not a baby, I do understand things. 'Later on I can't say to you: Oh, you didn't tell me this or you didn't tell me that, because I knew everything.' Prosecutor Mr Baker told the jury: 'If that wasn't true, why would she say it? 'She wanted to get back together with him despite knowing of his plans to go abroad and commit an act of terrorism.' During the conversation, Ali was recorded telling his wife about how he was planning to detonate a series of improvised explosives abroad with other plotters, the court heard. 'Ashik Ali felt able to talk openly with Salma Kabal about his intentions to commit terrorist acts in the future and other related matters', said Mr Baker. 'The conversation only really works between two people if both have some understanding of what is being referred to, and each are aware of what the other knows and understands.' 'He said Ali told her the bombings would be outside the UK "to protect her from the truth or protect himself and others from loose talk" to stop authorities learning of their plans. In fact, police had been watching the terrorist cell for months and had bugged Ali's flat in Birmingham, in the four days before they were all rounded up, in September 2011. Ali, Irfan Naseer and Irfan Khalid were masterminding the terrorist plot, practicing making bombs and identifying possible targets. Khalid and Naseer had twice travelled to Pakistan for Jihad training in the mountains, returning to the UK to pass on their knowledge and encouraging others in Birmingham to go abroad for training. 'They were committed to committing acts of terrorism, although the finer details of the plot had not been finally agreed', said Mr Baker. 'They discussed ways of killing people and discussed their martyrdom.' Mr Baker said Kabal could have been aware of the plot for as long as two years prior to her arrest, but did nothing to prevent the terrorist cell from proceeding with its plans. She had become estranged from Ali as he raised funds for his plans through bogus charity collections, but kept quiet because she wanted to be reunited with him, it is alleged. 'It is clear from texts and also conversations that they had, that she wanted him back', said Mr Baker. 'It might help explain why she didn't tell people what Ashik Ali was planning or doing.' When Ali suggested the Ramadan 'could be my last' in August 2011, she replied: 'I understand'. 'Maybe it could his last because he thought he was going to die before the next Ramadan', said Mr Baker. On September 4, Kabal text her husband about Four Lions being shown that evening. 'Why does Salma Kabal draw Ashik Ali's attention to the fact the film was on that day', said Mr Baker. 'Salma Kabal had apparently had known about what Ashik Ali wanted to do with his life for the last two years of their marriage.' All the members of the terrorist cell have either been convicted after trial or admitted terrorist offences and are awaiting sentence. Mr Baker added: 'The prosecution is not saying Salma Kabal was involved in a terrorist plot, but simply she had information she should have told police about.' Prosecutors say the taped conversations show Kabal was fully aware of the plans but chose not to report her husband because she was still in love with her. Kabal was recorded saying: 'Kiss you goodbye in five months innit?', to which Ali replied: 'Hopefully before that'. When Kabal was arrested, she told police: 'I haven't done anything wrong', and refused to answer question in interview. She sat alone in the dock wearing a purple head scarf, listening intently as the case against her was outlined this morning. Kabal, from Birmingham, denies one count of having information about acts of terrorism. The trial continues. Terrorist pair facing years in jail as they admit to planning suicide bomb attacks 'to rival 9/11' Two members of a terrorist cell are facing jail after admitting their involvement in a suicide bomb plot to rival the 9/11 attacks. Bahader Ali, 29, and Mohammed Rizwan, 34, gathered funds and information to support plans for the largest terrorist atrocity ever carried out on UK soil. The pair, from Birmingham, were part of a terrorist cell which had converted a council house into a bomb factory to prepare for the attacks. Guilty: Bahader Ali, left, and Mohammed Rizwan who today admitted they were involved in a terror plot 'to rival the 9/11 attacks' at Woolwich Crown Court Terror conspiracy: Irfan Naseer, 31, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali, both 27, were last month convicted of being the ringleaders of the plot to commit the largest ever atrocity carried out on UK soil Irfan Khalid, 28, Irfan Naseer, 31, and Ashik Ali, 28, were convicted last month of being the ringleaders of a plot for a series of suicide bombings across the UK. The trio were secretly recorded boasting their murderous campaign would be 'another 9/11' as they practised making bombs and identified possible targets. Naseer and Khalid twice travelled to Pakistan to learn about bomb-making, weapons and poisons, returning to Birmingham to share their expertise. Members of the cell posed as charity collectors during Ramadan to raise funds for the attacks, raking in around £15,000 but then wasting the cash on bad investments and buying a car. But members of the terrorist cell were arrested in September 2011 before any attacks could take place. Arrest footage of trio convicted of bomb plot Collecting for terror: Irfan Naseer left and Irfan Khalid holding bucket undertake bogus charity collections in Birmingham to secretly raise funds for their bombing campaign Collecting for terror: Irfan Naseer, left, and Irfan Khalid, holding a bucket, undertake bogus charity collections in Birmingham to raise funds for their bombing campaign. Today two more men admitted their role in the plot Bahader Ali, the older brother of Ashik, and Rizwan were due to stand trial at Woolwich Crown Court, having initially denied their involvement in the plot. But they both admitted terrorism charges today. Bearded Ali, dressed in a blue smock and skull cap, confessed to posing as a charity collector to raise funds for the attacks, and collecting information between July and September 2011. Rizwan, also in a smock and grey head cap, admitted gathering information for terrorist attacks. Irfan Naseer, 31, Irfan Khalid, 27, and Ashik Ali, 27, all from Birmingham, were convicted at Woolwich Crown Court of planning to set off up to eight bombs hidden in rucksacks. Watched: The group were under surveillance 24 hours a day by MI5 and the police. They are pictured here returning from a trip to a camp in Pakistan Bogus collections: The men said they were collecting for Muslim Aid as they raised funds to carry out their planned atrocity Alarm clock recovered from the flat Charity funded terror: The men posed as fundraisers for a Muslim charity (left) then used the cash to pay for bomb devices such as this alarm clock (right) Mr Justice Henriques ordered two additional charges of gathering information for terrorism to lie on the court file. He set down a three-day sentencing hearing to take place on April 22, when all members of the terrorist cell will be sentenced. Ali, from Birmingham, admitted engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts and entering into a funding arrangement for the purposes of terrorism. Rizwan, also from Birmingham, admitted engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts. Arrests: Ashik Ali, Irfan Khalid and Irfan Naseer are arrested in Birmingham as police swoop on the terror plotters Arrests: Ashik Ali, Irfan Khalid and Irfan Naseer are arrested in Birmingham as police swoop on the terror plotters Safe house: The trio were based at this property in White Street, Birmingham, and used as the headquarters for their terror cell Safe house: The terror cell were based in this council house in White Street, Birmingham. They used the property as the headquarters for their terror cell Probe: Police raided properties all over Birmingham, including this safe house, which was full of bomb-making equipment and documents detailing how to make them Salma Kabal: Terrorist pair facing years in jail as they admit to planning suicide bomb attacks 'to rival 9/11' | Mail Online |
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| Birmingham terror plot ringleader jailed for minimum of 18 years Irfan Naseer and co-conspirators planned attacks that could have been more devastating than 7/7 bombings Haroon Siddique and agencies guardian.co.uk, Friday 26 April 2013 12.54 BST The ringleader of a plot to carry out terror attacks in the UK, which would have been more deadly than the 7/7 bombings in 2005, has been jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years. Irfan Naseer, 31, was described by a judge on Friday as the "leader, driving force and man in charge" of the terror cell in Sparkhill, Birmingham, which planned to set off eight to 10 suicide bombs and timed explosive devices in crowded places. The other leaders of the cell, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali, both 28, were handed jail terms of 18 years and 15 years respectively. Khalid, who boasted of creating "another 9/11", was ordered to serve a minimum of 12 years, while Ali will serve 10 years before he can be considered for parole. On the third and final day of the sentencing hearing at Woolwich crown court, London, Mr Justice Henriques told Naseer: "Clearly nothing was going to stop you, short of intervention of the authorities. I have no doubt you would have continued with your plan but for that intervention. "Many deaths were planned by a determined team of individuals who were fully radicalised and you, Naseer, were their leader. No lack of assets, skill or manpower was going to stop you." Henriques said Naseer's plot had the blessing of al-Qaida and was intended to further the terror organisation's aims. The judge took into account that Khalid, who was under the influence of his "inseparable" friend Naseer, had been found to be in the bottom 2%-5% in terms of cognitive ability. Chemistry graduate Naseer and Khalid, both from Sparkhill, had travelled to Pakistan twice for training – on the second occasion spending two months at an al-Qaida training facility in Miran Shah, north Waziristan, where they had to flee from US drone strikes. They recruited Ali from Balsall Heath in Birmingham on their return, and began to draw others into the plot. They shared their knowledge of bomb making with Ali, who rented a council flat that became a makeshift bomb factory and the hub of the plot. The plan was to make explosives from sports-injury cold-pack treatments. The men were, however, being watched by the police and security services, who had placed bugs in two cars and the factory. It was the biggest counter-terror operation mounted in the UK for seven years, involving, at its peak, more than 400 officers and agents. Experts told the court the cell could have created a viable device but there was evidence that the men were struggling to get the ingredients, and no targets were identified by the police or security services. The group tried to fund their mission by posing as Muslim Aid charity street collectors in Sparkhill, raising £14,500 within two weeks. The cell's chief financier, Rahin Ahmed, 26, from Moseley, pleaded guilty to collecting, investing and managing money for terrorism, and assisting others to travel to Pakistan for training in terrorism. He was sentenced to 12 years in jail and will serve at least six before he can be released on licence. Henriques said he accepted that Ahmed was not aware of the details of the plot, but added that he had raised "money for a terrorist purpose knowing that acts of terrorism were being prepared". Seven other men were sentenced on Thursday in connection with the plot. Bahader Ali was jailed for six years and Mohammed Rizwan and Mujahid Hussain both received four year jail terms. Aspiring jihadists Shahid Khan, 21, Khobaib Hussain, 21, Ishaaq Hussain, 21, and Naweed Ali, 25, all from the Sparkhill area, and sent by Naseer to Pakistan for terror training in August 2011, were sentenced to 40 months each in jail. |