Dating website couple convicted of ‘devastating’ terrorist attack plot

A couple who met on a lonely hearts website have been found guilty of plotting “devastating” carnage over Christmas with an Islamic Stateinspired bomb or ricin attack.

Sudanese asylum seeker Munir Mohammed volunteered for a “lone wolf” UK mission as he chatted on Facebook with a man he believed was an IS commander.

He enlisted the help of pharmacist Rowaida El-hassan, drawing on her knowledge of chemicals needed to make a bomb after meeting her via the website Singlemuslim.com.

At the time of his arrest in December 2016, Mohammed had two of the three components for TATP explosives as well as manuals on how to make explosives, mobile phone detonators, and deadly ricin poison.

Mohammed, 36, of Leopold Street, Derby, and El-hassan, 33, of Willesden Lane, northwest London, denied preparing terrorist acts between November 2015 and December 2016.

But following an Old Bailey trial, a jury found the pair guilty of the plot.

Judge Michael Topolski QC remanded them in custody and warned they faced jail when they are sentenced on 22 February.

Following the verdicts, he said: “Munir Mohammed, you have been convicted of planning a potentially devastating terrorist attack by creating an explosive device and deploying it somewhere in the UK targeting those you regarded as enemies of the Islamic State.

“Rowaida El-hassan, you share the extremist mindset with Munir Mohammed and you were ideologically motivated to provide him with support, motivation and assistance.”