‘Allah’s Death Squad fanatic plotted attack on Big Ben’
He wanted blitz on London, court told
A FANATICAL Muslim teacher plotted terror carnage across London with targets including Big Ben and Heathrow, a court heard.
Umar Haque, 25, allegedly said “we are a death squad sent by Allah” and tried to groom pupils as young as 11 with beheading videos.
Haque was “fascinated” by Islamic State and spoke of a terror rampage in the capital four days after the Westminster Bridge atrocity last March, the Old Bailey heard.
In a bugged chat, Haque allegedly spoke of attacks “in so many areas”, adding: “London will be, not just Westminster attack, entire London... We’re here to cause terror. We are a death squad sent by Allah.”
Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC said: “Umar Haque was fascinated by Islamic State. He had identified methods and targets.” He said they included the Queen’s Guard, City banks, Westfield shopping centre, Heathrow, Parliament and Big Ben.
Haque also showed images of beheadings at Lantern of Knowledge Islamic School in Leyton, East London, the court heard. Mr Heywood said he told youngsters he intended to die a martyr. Abuthaher Mamun, 19, Muhammad Abid, 27, and Nadeem Patel, 26, who knew Haque from Ripple Road Mosque in Barking, allegedly aided him. Haque came to the attention of police in 2016 and his plans emerged in bugged chats in Abid’s car and home and his own car last year, the court heard. All four men were held in May. Haque and Mamun are jointly charged with preparing acts of terror. Haque is also charged with preparing terror by leading exercises at the mosque and dissemination of terrorist publications at the school. Abid is accused of having details of Haque’s plans and Patel is charged with plotting with Haque to possess a firearm or imitation firearm. The four, of East London, deny guilt. But Haque admits collecting terrorist information and disseminating a terrorist publication, and Patel admits having a prohibited weapon. The trial continues.