Fellow plotter planned ‘Lee Rigby-style’ murder
ONE of Usman Khan’s co-defendants at his 2012 trial was later jailed for his part in a terror plot inspired by the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby.
Mohibur Rahman, 35, was one of the eight terrorists jailed with Khan seven years ago.
Rahman got five years after pleading guilty to possession of Al-qaeda magazines featuring bomb-making instructions.
He was released after serving half of the sentence, but with three other men was jailed for life in August 2017.
The four plotted a “Lee Rigby-style” terrorist attack to murder members of the police or military using a pipe bomb and meat cleaver.
Naweed Ali, 29, Khobaib Hussain, 25, and Rahman, were sentenced to serve a minimum term of 20 years for their “significant role” in the planned attack.tahiraziz, 38, was jailed for no less than 15 years.
They were stopped after a major MI5 counter-terrorism operation in August 2016.
A bag of weapons, including a pipe bomb, air pistol and meat cleaver were found in Ali’s car.
It emerged that Rahman and Aziz visited Anjem Choudary in May 2016.
The Ministry of Justice refused to say how many of Khan’s accomplices have been released from their 2012 sentences. But with the longest term given to Mohammed Shahjahan, 35, of 17 years and eight months, it is possible all are out.
It is thought Shahjahan, who like Rahman and Aziz is from Stoke-on-trent, was released but a relative at one of his former addresses said yesterday they had not seen him since 2010. Omar Latif, 35, got 10 years and four months after he admitted assisting to engage in acts of terrorism. It is thought he was released in 2018, but may have been returned to prison. Dipu Ahad, 39, a councillor on Newcastle City Council, used to consider Latif – the son of one of his cousins – as his nephew, but said he has fallen out with that side of the family. He said: “I heard on the grapevine he was released last year and then went back in for breaching his parole.” At the 2012 trial, Woolwich Crown Court heard a target list found at one of the plotter’s homes included the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, then London mayor Boris Johnson, two rabbis, and the American Embassy. The
Stoke extremists talked about setting off pipe bombs in two pubs in their home town.
Mohammed Chowdhury, 29, and Shah Rahman, 37, planned to plant a bomb in the London Stock Exchange and were seen scouting other potential targets.
Chowdhury pleaded guilty to preparing to commit an act of terrorism and was jailed for at least 13 years and eight months.
Shah Rahman got at least 12 years for the same offence.
Abdul Miah, 33, and
Gurukanth Desai, 38, were jailed for at least 16 years and 10 months and 12 years respectively.
Nazam Hussain, 34, admitted travelling to attend operational meetings, fundraising for terrorist training and preparing to travel abroad with intent to commit acts of terrorism. Like Shahjahan and Khan he was given an indeterminate sentence with a minimum of eight years and 10 months, changed to 16 years on appeal.