The Muslim convert who threatened to kill ‘unbelievables’
A FORMER soldier and Muslim convert sparked a major terrorist alert when he threatened to kill ‘unbelievables’, a court heard.
Alexander Tiffin, who visited Saudi Arabia and Turkey earlier this year, made the threats in text messages to a member of his mosque five days after the London Bridge attack in June.
The man who received the message, Shakibur Khan, was so concerned that he raised it with mosque committee members and informed the police.
But after a police investigation into Tiffin’s background, the conclusion was that he was not a terrorist but ‘an idiot’.
At Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday, Sheriff Margaret Neilson deferred sentence for good behaviour until January 19 next year.
Tiffin had earlier admitted behaving in a threatening manner on June 8 this year.
Sheriff Neilson warned Tiffin, of Invergordon, that if he misbehaved he could still be jailed.
His solicitor, Roger Webb, told the court: ‘I am grateful for the Crown’s conclusion that he is an idiot, not a terrorist. There is no evidence of him being radicalised.
‘This came at a difficult time in his personal life. He had been given news by his wife that he didn’t like and broke a tenet of his religion and got drunk.
‘The person at the mosque quite properly went to the police and he is welcome back at the mosque and the guidance of those wiser than himself. He told officers he was stupid and apologises to the court, the police and the mosque.’
At a previous hearing, fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart told the
‘An idiot, not a terrorist’
court that former soldier Tiffin converted to Islam between eight months and a year ago and began attending the Inverness Masjid or mosque.
Around 2.45am on Thursday, June 8, Mr Khan received a series of text messages from a mobile telephone number he recognised as Tiffin’s.
‘The first of these messages indicated that he was drunk,’ said Mr Urquhart. ‘But the third said, “I decided to kill the unbelievables”, followed by a text simply stating “Unbelievers”, and another saying “Allahu Akbar”.’
Tiffin told officers he had no memory of having sent the text. He also stated that the import of the message was the polar opposite of his true beliefs.
Mr Urquhart said Mr Khan was aware that Tiffin was a recent convert to Islam and had visited Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage. ‘He was alarmed by the terms of these messages,’ he added.
‘As he was at that time at the Masjid for first prayers, he asked Tiffin to come to the Masjid to talk but received no response. After discussing the texts with members of the Masjid committee, Mr Khan went to Burnett Road police station to report his concerns.’
Mr Urquhart said that after extensive inquiries, including going through Tiffin’s internet searches and contacts, police could not establish any link between him and any terrorist organisation.
‘The conclusion has been that he was an idiot, not a terrorist,’ Mr Urquhart said.