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Isis followers plotted to knife a member of the public, court hears Isis followers plotted to knife a member of the public, court hears
(about 2 hours later)
Three Islamic State supporters arrested days before Remembrance Sunday last year plotted to knife a member of the British public, a court has heard.Three Islamic State supporters arrested days before Remembrance Sunday last year plotted to knife a member of the British public, a court has heard.
They were acting on a “truly chilling” fatwa issued by Isis to rig the roads with explosives and to cut off the heads of members of the public, police officers or security services, said the prosecution. They were acting on a “truly chilling” fatwa, or religious edict, issued by Isis to rig the roads with explosives and to cut off the heads of members of the public, police officers or security services, said the prosecution.
Max Hill, QC, told jurors on the opening day of the terror trial at Woolwich crown court that the plot was foiled after their arrest on 6 November last year and there was evidence they had shown an interest in a series of beheadings by Isis last summer and in the murder of Rigby. Max Hill QC, told jurors on the opening day of the terror trial at Woolwich crown court that the plot was foiled after their arrest on 6 November last year and there was evidence they had shown an interest in a series of beheadings by Isis last summer and in the murder of Rigby.
The defendants were in almost daily discussion about violent acts following the issue of the fatwa last September by Aby Muhammad al-Adnani, a spokesman for Isis, Hill told jurors.The defendants were in almost daily discussion about violent acts following the issue of the fatwa last September by Aby Muhammad al-Adnani, a spokesman for Isis, Hill told jurors.
The 11-page fatwa claimed to “provide specific justification for killing police officers and members of western security services”, said Hill.The 11-page fatwa claimed to “provide specific justification for killing police officers and members of western security services”, said Hill.
Hill told jurors that the defendants “were extreme and unnaturally interested in murders and beheadings” and the fatwa gained their “avid attention”.
The lengthy fatwa instructed followers to “rig the road with explosives for them [enemies], attack their bases. Raid their homes. Cut off their heads ... hunt them wherever they may be ... remove their families from their homes and thereafter blow up their homes.”The lengthy fatwa instructed followers to “rig the road with explosives for them [enemies], attack their bases. Raid their homes. Cut off their heads ... hunt them wherever they may be ... remove their families from their homes and thereafter blow up their homes.”
It continued: “Strike their police, security and intelligence members as well as their treacherous agents” and urged followers to kill “disbelieving American or European, especially the spiteful and filthy French, or an Australian or Canadian ... in any manner”.It continued: “Strike their police, security and intelligence members as well as their treacherous agents” and urged followers to kill “disbelieving American or European, especially the spiteful and filthy French, or an Australian or Canadian ... in any manner”.
Adnani added: “If you are not able to find an IED [improvised explosive device] or a bullet, then single out the disbelieving American, Frenchman or any of their allies. Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him from a high place, or choke him, or poison him.”Adnani added: “If you are not able to find an IED [improvised explosive device] or a bullet, then single out the disbelieving American, Frenchman or any of their allies. Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him from a high place, or choke him, or poison him.”
Hill said this fatwa was the catalyst for the three Islamic extremists in the dock who discussed violent acts almost on a daily basis since its issue. Hill said this fatwa was the catalyst for the three Islamic extremists in the dock, who had discussed violent acts almost on a daily basis since its issue.
Nadir Ali Syed, 22, from Hounslow, west London, his cousin Yousaf Shah Syed, 20, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and Haseeb Hamayoon, 28, from Hayes, west London, have been charged with one count of terrorism, a plot of “researching, planning and sourcing of weapons and equipment with a view to committing acts against persons in the UK using knives” between 20 September and 7 November last year.Nadir Ali Syed, 22, from Hounslow, west London, his cousin Yousaf Shah Syed, 20, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and Haseeb Hamayoon, 28, from Hayes, west London, have been charged with one count of terrorism, a plot of “researching, planning and sourcing of weapons and equipment with a view to committing acts against persons in the UK using knives” between 20 September and 7 November last year.
All three have pleaded not guilty.All three have pleaded not guilty.
The Syeds wore maroon sweatshirts and skull caps in court, while Hamayoon sat a seat apart dressed in a dark grey suit.The Syeds wore maroon sweatshirts and skull caps in court, while Hamayoon sat a seat apart dressed in a dark grey suit.
Hill said the defendants had become aware of the fatwa on 21 September, the day it was released.Hill said the defendants had become aware of the fatwa on 21 September, the day it was released.
Jurors heard that before the fatwa, the defendants had shown a keen interest in Isis – the Syeds had booked return flights to Turkey last January. While Nadir could not board the flight because he was on police bail in connection with a public order incident a month earlier, his cousin did travel. Prosecutors believe Yousaf was minded to go on to Syria but after contact with his family returned to the UK earlier than planned.Jurors heard that before the fatwa, the defendants had shown a keen interest in Isis – the Syeds had booked return flights to Turkey last January. While Nadir could not board the flight because he was on police bail in connection with a public order incident a month earlier, his cousin did travel. Prosecutors believe Yousaf was minded to go on to Syria but after contact with his family returned to the UK earlier than planned.
Days later, in February, Hamayoon used his wife’s bank account to buy a “Rambo First Blood II-style” knife from a website called Blade Bargains, the court heard.Days later, in February, Hamayoon used his wife’s bank account to buy a “Rambo First Blood II-style” knife from a website called Blade Bargains, the court heard.
In June Nadir Syed was posting breaking news about Isis leader Abubakar al-Baghdadi declaring the restoration of the caliphate on the internet, jurors were told.In June Nadir Syed was posting breaking news about Isis leader Abubakar al-Baghdadi declaring the restoration of the caliphate on the internet, jurors were told.
In August Hamayoon described the US president as “kaffir Obama” on WhatsApp adding that “he’s going to die soon” following news that he had ordered airstrikes in Iraq.In August Hamayoon described the US president as “kaffir Obama” on WhatsApp adding that “he’s going to die soon” following news that he had ordered airstrikes in Iraq.
Police found gruesome images of “beheaded males and suicide bombers” on Nadir’s phone. On 1 September, weeks before the Fatwa, he had stored a photo of one of soldier Lee Rigby’s killers, Michael Adebolajo, with the dismembered body of Rigby in the background. Police found gruesome images of “beheaded males and suicide bombers” on Nadir’s phone. On 1 September, weeks before the Fatwa, he had stored a photo of one of the killers of the soldier Lee Rigby, Michael Adebolajo, with the dismembered body of Rigby in the background.
Jurors were told the defendants had shown “a level of interest in Rigby that was repeated again and again and again”. When arrested, detectives discovered images of police community support officers - one outside a Superdrug store in London and another patrolling the car park in the Hounslow mosque - on the phones of Nadir Syed and Hamayoon respectively. Jurors were told the defendants had shown “a level of interest in Rigby that was repeated again and again and again”. When arrested, detectives discovered images of police community support officers – one outside a Superdrug store in London and another patrolling the car park of the Hounslow mosque – on the phones of Nadir Syed and Hamayoon respectively.
The Syeds exchanged messages about American journalist James Foley who was beheaded in August last year, while Nadir also discussed a second beheading of a second American journalist Steven Sotloff in an internet chatroom. The Syeds exchanged messages about the American journalist James Foley, who was beheaded in August last year, while Nadir also discussed the beheading of a second American journalist, Steven Sotloff, in an internet chatroom.
On the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attack, Yousaf Syed remarked that “3,000 piglets died that day” while on 13 September, a week before the Fatwa, Nadir has created images of 9/11 the 7/7 terror attack in London and of the beheading of British taxi driver Alan Henning. On the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attack, Yousaf Syed remarked that “3,000 piglets died that day”, while on 13 September, a week before the fatwa, Nadir had created images of 9/11, the 7/7 terror attack in London and of the beheading of a British taxi driver, Alan Henning.
By 5 November, all three were discussing how to source knives, the jury heard. Hamayoon recommended “the dad of all knives”, a 12-inch Victorinox chef’s knife.
He had already bought one for £36 from a kitchenware shop in Ealing and offered to take Nadir there to get one for himself.
Using false names for discussions, the trio used text, Whatsapp and a heavily encrypted cloud service called Telegram, where they chatted on two different groups, Tawheed Wal Bara’ah (TWB) and The Lads.
In conversations on TWB, Nadir praised Numan Haider, the 18-year-old Australian shot dead after stabbing two police officers, describing him as a “martyr” and agreeing he was “a diamond geezer”.
He also discussed an emotional appeal by Henning’s wife before he was killed, quipping: “I reckon John [Jihadi John] will be in the desert again in few days. Henning is a gonar [sic]”.
At one point, Hill paused to warn jurors they were about to see “a shocking image” albeit sanitised, of a man being beheaded by Isis taken from Nadir’s phone. The photograph showed a man with his head pushed back and being decapitated, Hill said. Nadir wrote: “Big knife for a big kafir.”
Nadir, who had a phone with the pin code 77911, in an apparent reference to the dates of extremist attacks in London and New York, also quipped: “I really don’t get these guys that go back and forth to Syria ... why wuld u ever want to come back”.
The trial continues.The trial continues.