A PAIR of home-grown terrorists linked to Jihadi John are facing years in jail
for a plot to kill soldiers, police officers and civilians on the streets of
London in a series of ISIS-inspired drive-by shootings.
Mastermind Tarik Hassane – a trainee doctor dubbed The Surgeon – led the plot
with sidekick Suhaib Majeed, who was studying physics at one of Britain’s
top universities.
Majeed had got his hands on a gun and ammunition and was discussing buying an
untraceable moped before police swooped to arrest him in September 2014.
His old school friend Hassane returned to London from his medicine studies in
Sudan to carry on as a “lone wolf terrorist” before he too was
picked up.
He identified Shepherd’s Bush police station and the Parachute Regiment
Territorial Army Barracks at White City as possible targets on Google Street
View.
Midway through the Old Bailey trial, Hassane, 22, admitted conspiracy to
murder and preparation of terrorist acts.
His right hand man Majeed, 21, continued to deny the charges but was convicted
today on the fifth day of jury deliberations.
Two other defendants, Nyall Hamlett, 25, and Nathan Cuffy, 26, were acquitted
of being part of the plot by helping to provide the gun.
Jurors were not told that Hassane and Majeed, both from west London, had links
to the same mosque associated with Mohammed Emwazi – better known as ISIS
butcher Jihadi John.
Prosecutor Brian Altman QC had said Hassane and Majeed were heavily influenced
by the rise of ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
Within days after ISIS declared a caliphate in June 2014, Hassane pledged his
allegiance and encouraged his friends to follow suit. He was pictured posing
with a gun in one hand and a book on Osama bin Laden in the other.
The other defendants showed signs of extremist views, including his close
friend Majeed, who was studying at the prestigious King’s College London and
was chairman of its Islamic society.
The court heard Majeed sent a picture of a dead fighter “laughing”
to a Telegram chat group named Turnup Terror Squad, of which Hassane was
also a member.
And he had a “grim” video of Jihadi John beheading a journalist on
his iPad, jurors were told.
In September, they received “direct” encouragement when the ISIS
official spokesman issued a fatwa to kill disbelievers in the West in a
speech on YouTube.
Later the same month, Cuffy supplied a self-loading Baikal pistol with
silencer and bullets to fellow Muslim convert and former Catholic altar boy
Hamlett, who passed it on to Majeed.
It was one of five guns the “street criminal” had stashed at his
home in sports bags which he claimed he was holding for three joint owners.
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Cuffy, who worked at The Money Shop, had already pleaded guilty to possession
of firearms with intent to endanger life relating to a small armoury of
assorted guns at his home.
Hamlett previously pleaded guilty to transferring a prohibited firearm and
selling or transferring ammunition.
Majeed admitted having the Baikal self-loading pistol, silencer and ammunition
but denied intent to endanger life. However, the jury convicted him of the
more serious charge.
Majeed was an “essential cog” in the conspiracy, having set up a
laptop to exchange encrypted messages with Hassane in Khartoum, the court
heard.
In them, Hassane repeatedly urged him to get the “P”, “Z”
and “C” together to set his deadly plan in motion.
The prosecution said P was code for money, Z was for a “zoom zoom”
or moped and C was for “Creps” – their secret language for
firearms, which were also referred to as types of trainers.
After today’s verdicts Scotland Yard Commander Dean Haydon said the terror
plot was a “step up” in terms of complexity and the use of guns,
which was a “real concern” for police.
Outside scan bid
SECURITY scanners could move to airport entrances after the Brussels attacks.
It will “definitely” be discussed at a emergency meeting next week,
said and EU source. The practice is common at Russian airports following
suicide attacks.