Isis ‘IT chief ’ who plotted atrocity at Cheshire Show
AN ILLEGAL immigrant who supported a network of jihadis from his flat boasted of planning an atrocity targeting a county show with thousands of visitors.
Rabar Mala, 32, was refused permission to remain in Britain but stayed under the radar for years by using the name of a brother and working as a car valeter.
But when he wasn’t at work, the Iraqi Kurd was using his one-bedroom flat in Cheshire to run what was effectively Islamic State’s ‘IT department’ using a messaging site popular with Islamists.
He also claimed to have tickets for the Royal Cheshire County Show, whose past presidents have included Princess Anne and the Countess of Wessex, to mount an attack using ‘people and weapons’.
A police raid found he had activated hundreds of mobile phone SIM cards to allow jihadists in Iraq and Syria to use the Telegram app, uncovering 1.8million messages in four languages.
As Mala was jailed yesterday for eight years, police said the case showed how the refusal of some social media companies to share their data with the authorities puts the public at risk.
‘I would say Mala was as dangerous as the IS fighter with a Kalashnikov or rocket launcher, because he tool was Superintendent in of their providing the North armoury,’ them West Will said with Counter Chatterton, Detective a vital Terrorism ‘make my officers’ Unit. He job said a lot it easier’ would if companies such as Telegram cooperated with police.
Mala had applied for the right to stay in Britain in 2008 but was turned down. He avoided deportation by using the name of a brother who had left the UK, and worked for a Ford dealership in Warrington. Under the online alias Zak Kurdy, he used old- style phones to register SIM cards and then switch them to his smartphone would contact Mala who would allocate from them one to activate them of to his register a SIM them. phone cards, an Terrorists number account enabling on exchange Telegram. and Crucially, the resulting the account were both anonymous. Mala had activated a total of 360 cards since January 2016. They were found hidden in a cupboard with a false back when police carried out a dawn raid on his flat on August 20 last year. Among messages retrieved by police were threats by Mala to attack the Royal Cheshire County Show, which attracts almost 100,000 biggest ‘About cars horses of and every half people show,’ owners.’ a type, million he every wrote lorries, June. will last attend... trailers, ‘It’s June. the and He said referred the to operation a machine would gun ‘start tomorrow’. He added: ‘I’m here as a representative abroad.’ He was sent a response that said: ‘A seeker of martyrdom is good.’ Mala added: ‘I have about seven tickets. It only needs people and weapons. It will be an end for Crusaders.’ He also celebrated the Manchester bombing in May last year, telling one of his contacts: ‘May Allah direct their shooting.’ Security around the But fact the company are the that chiefs probe fulfilling world. Telegram, fear was founded that a hampered similar other a by Dubaibased Russian role terrorists by does law enforcement entrepreneur not share information agencies. Pavel Durov, with Colin, Mala, pleaded who also guilty used to two the counts name of using possessions and properties for terrorist purposes when he appeared at Manchester Crown Court. Jailing him, Judge Patrick Field said: ‘These were the deliberate and repeated acts of a determined adherent to the IS creed.’