AN Islamic extremist who planned a Lee Rigby-style terror attack on US
military outside a British airbase was jailed for life today.
Delivery driver Junead Khan, 25, used his job to scout out US Air Force bases
after scrapping his original plan to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS.
Khan plotted to use his van to crash into US troops and then attack them with
a large knife similar to the one used by Jihadi John, Kingston Crown Court
heard today.
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Sentencing him to life in jail a judge said he “admired and wanted to emulate
Jihadi John and the killers of Lee Rigby”.
It was revealed in court how he had planned to travel to Syria with his uncle
23-year-old Shazib Khan.
But he changed his plans when his driving job took him past RAF bases in
Suffolk and Norfolk.
He planned to target soldiers, using a hunting knife to kill them.
Luton based extremist Junead Khan scouted out US Air Force bases, including
RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk,
it was said.
He sent messages Junaid Hussain, a British-born jihadi and computer expert,
who encouraged him to carry out a lone wolf attack.
In one Khan said: “When I saw these US soldiers on road it looked simple but I
had nothing on me or would’ve got into an accident with them and made them
get out the car.”
Hussain replied: “That’s what the brother done with Lee Rigby.”
Junead and his uncle had also posted a chilling video on Youtube in September
2014 called ‘ISIS drives around Westminster’.
The clip featured an extremist chant praising Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader
of ISIS and had a man singing: “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the dread of our
enemies, maids of paradise are calling, record me for my martyrdom, our
swords are flashing, our tones are artillery.”
Mr Justice Andrew Edis said: “They have rejected the protection of the law of
this country and the education they have received by becoming committed
supporters of ISIS, an organisation which wishes to control the world and
which will stop short of no barbarity in order to do so.
“They were aware of the beheadings by Jihadi John very early in their
adherence to ISIS, and also of the burning alive of a Jordonian pilot.
“They said that they did not approve of some of the methods of ISIS but
actually nothing which that organisation did prevented them from being eager
to join it. That includes the Paris attacks.”
Discussing Junead Khan’s plan to kill troops, he said: “He could use his
van to crash into them and then attack them with a large knife.
“He particularly wanted to have a knife like that used by Jihadi John to
behead defenceless prisoners for propaganda purposes.”
Speaking to them both the judge said: “It is quite plain that this was a joint
plan by both the defendants.
“They would have done their best to help ISIS and the whole world knows
where that can end.”
Junead Khan was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 12 years, for one
count of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts.
He was also sentenced to eight years, to run concurrently, on one count of
engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts for making plans to
travel to Syria and join ISIS.
His uncle Shazib, also of Luton, was given an extended sentence of 13 years,
with eight years to be spent in prison and five years on extended licence,
for one count of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts for
making plans to travel to Syria and join ISIS.
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