Mother’s tip-off ‘prevented knife terror attack’

 A suspected terrorist was stopped from going on a knife rampage in Westminster because his mother tipped off police, a court heard.

Khalid Ali, 28, spent five years making bombs in Afghanistan for the Taliban before returning home to deliver a “message” to Parliament armed with three knives, jurors were told. He was arrested in Parliament Square on April 27 last year, having twice carried out “hostile reconnaissance” in Westminster.

Mr Ali’s mother had previously found knives in her son’s bedroom at her north London home and dialled 999, telling officers she was afraid he was going to kill his relatives.

Mr Ali denies two charges of possessing explosives with intent abroad in 2012 and one charge of preparing terrorist acts in Britain.