Four Islamist extremists connected to al Qaeda plotted to blow up a Territorial Army base and other targets in the UK, a court heard today.
The gang, all from Luton, planned to use homemade bombs constructed from downloaded instructions in al Qaeda’s internet magazine Inspire.
The plot was cracked by Scotland Yard and MI5, who planted bugs in two cars used by the ringleaders. This showed that Zahid Iqbal, 31, was in contact with a Pakistan-based terrorist codenamed Modern Sleeve by security services. Together they enabled UK recruits to travel to Pakistan for terror training.
Iqbal, Mohammed Sharfaz Ahmed, 25, Umar Arshad, 24, and Syed Farhan Hussain, 21, have all pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct and preparation for acts of terrorism. Mr Justice Wilkie will sentence them at Woolwich crown court at the end of the hearing, which continues. Thirteen further counts under the Terrorism Act are expected to be left to lie on file.
Prosecutor Max Hill said the gang was “committed to violent jihad against the military and civilian population of western states such as the UK ... They identified a target for the attack, namely a TA base in their locality, although they discussed targeting multiple sites.”
The gang were tracked through a major surveillance operation. Ahmed was the recruiter who “groomed” and radicalised Arshad in particular, and Iqbal organised the trips to Pakistan.
Officers used codename Silent Chord for Iqbal, Lower Elevation for Ahmed, Retro Wallpaper for Arshad, and Classic Film for Hussain. Their houses were searched in April last year.
