‘Ruthless’ Tube bomber is jailed for at least 34 years

A TEENAGE asylum seeker has been jailed for at least 34 years for planting the Parsons Green Tube bomb, which injured 51 people.

Iraqi Ahmed Hassan, who claims to be 18, pretended to engage with the anti-terrorism Prevent scheme as he plotted mass murder in the capital.

He made a bomb with 400g of ‘mother of Satan’ explosives and 2.2kg of shrapnel while his unsuspecting foster parents were on holiday in Blackpool.

The Old Bailey heard he wanted to avenge the death of his father in Iraq and was “disappointed” when the bomb only partly detonated in a huge fireball.

A jury rejected his explanation that he only wanted to act out a fantasy like the Tom Cruise film Mission: Impossible and convicted him of multiple attempted murders. Hassan gave no reaction as Mr Justice Haddon-Cave handed him a life sentence with a minimum term of 34 years.

The judge said that the defendant was a “dangerous and devious individual” who quietly went about plotting his attack with “ruthless determination and almost military efficiency while pretending to be a model asylum seeker”.

He told Hassan: “Your intention that morning was to kill as many members of the British public as possible.

“I’m satisfied you were determined to create as much death and carnage that day as possible.”

Hassan was motivated by Islamic State extremism, “deep-seated hatred” of Britain, revenge for the death of his father and anger at continued bombing in Iraq.

For nearly two years, the highly intelligent college student had lived a “double life”, the judge said. Hassan had been shown “every kindness” since he arrived in Britain, yet harboured “dark thoughts” and significant hatred and animosity towards the countrythattookhimin.

The trial heard how Hassan arrived in Britain illegally in 2015 and told officials he had trained with IS.

He was referred to the Prevent initiative, but he kept his murderous plans a secret.