Pupils ‘shown film of beheadings’ by terror spree charge teacher
A TEACHER “fascinated” by Islamic State plotted attacks on famous London targets including Big Ben, Parliament and the Queen’s Guard, a court heard yesterday.
Obsessed Umar Haque also had Westfield shopping centres, banks, courts, embassies, public transport and Heathrow airport in his sights, it was alleged.
Haque, 25, recruited fellow worshippers at his mosque and claimed he was part of a “death squad sent by Allah”, jurors were told.
He showed videos of beheadings to secondary schoolchildren and put older students through physical training and role-playing classes, the Old Bailey heard.
Haque was said to be fixated with the “warped and extreme ideology” of IS and in particular the 2017 Westminster Bridge attack in which Khalid Masood killed five people.
Theresa May was caught up in the drama and was filmed being driven away from Parliament. In a bugged conversation Haque, who faces charges with three co-accused, allegedly said: “We are here to cause terrorism.
“Someone recorded the Prime Minister being bundled into a car and they were in confusion.
“I like to see this. I wanna see these people scared.”
Haque allegedly spoke of leaving bombs in lifts or going for a “quick spin” around Westminster.
He also bragged of “personally” wanting to launch attacks all over the capital, including the area he lived in, it was said.
He allegedly said: “Immediately there’s one focus to all the police – get off the streets, civilians get off the streets. We’re here to cause terror, my brother.” Prosecutor Mark Heywood, QC, said Haque had already decided to launch attacks before the Westminster killings last March.
Mr Heywood said: “Umar Haque was fascinated by the warped and extreme ideology of Islamic State. He had identified methods and targets.”
Haque, of Forest Gate, east London, denies preparing acts of terrorism, disseminating terrorist publications and conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
He admits another charge of disseminating terrorist publications and collecting information likely to be of use to a terrorist. Jurors heard Haque, who taught at a Muslim secondary and a mosque, plotted with Nadeem Patel, 26, to obtain a firearm.
The pair were arrested last May along with Abuthaher Mamun and Muhammad Abid after a counter-terrorism investigation.
Patel, also of Forest Gate, denies conspiracy to possess a firearm but admits possession of a prohibited weapon.
Mamun, 19, of Barking, east London, denies preparing terrorist acts. Abid, 27, of Manor Park, east London, denies failing to disclose information about Haque.
The trial continues.