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Two convicted over moped drive-by London terror plot Two convicted over moped drive-by London terror plot
(about 2 hours later)
Two Britons have been convicted of an Islamic State-inspired plot to carry out drive-by murders on the streets of London.Two Britons have been convicted of an Islamic State-inspired plot to carry out drive-by murders on the streets of London.
Counter-terrorism officials believe police or soldiers were the intended targets of the conspiracy, in which the two plotters, who were university students, threw away glittering careers to pursue violent jihad.Counter-terrorism officials believe police or soldiers were the intended targets of the conspiracy, in which the two plotters, who were university students, threw away glittering careers to pursue violent jihad.
Related: Moped plot students threw away promising future in pursuit of jihad
The Guardian understands that ringleader Tarik Hassane, 22, is believed to have visited Isis-controlled territory in Syria, and the plot is also believed to have been aided by someone overseas.The Guardian understands that ringleader Tarik Hassane, 22, is believed to have visited Isis-controlled territory in Syria, and the plot is also believed to have been aided by someone overseas.
Hassane is suspected of at one time associating with Mohammed Emwazi, who gained worldwide notoriety as Isis’s “Jihadi John”. They grew up in the same area of London, and went to the same mosque in west London.Hassane is suspected of at one time associating with Mohammed Emwazi, who gained worldwide notoriety as Isis’s “Jihadi John”. They grew up in the same area of London, and went to the same mosque in west London.
Officials believe Hassane’s plans were the most significant terrorist plot in Britain for nearly a decade.Officials believe Hassane’s plans were the most significant terrorist plot in Britain for nearly a decade.
The convictions come after a trial at the Old Bailey in central London.The convictions come after a trial at the Old Bailey in central London.
Midway through the trial Hassane pleaded guilty to having directed others in the plot through encrypted social media programs, while a medical student in Khartoum, Sudan.Midway through the trial Hassane pleaded guilty to having directed others in the plot through encrypted social media programs, while a medical student in Khartoum, Sudan.
His friend Suhaib Majeed, 21, was also convicted of the plot, in which he took part while studying at a London university.His friend Suhaib Majeed, 21, was also convicted of the plot, in which he took part while studying at a London university.
The four on trial, all from west London, were British citizens. Knowledge of the criminal world in west London was used to get a gun, silencer and ammunition.The four on trial, all from west London, were British citizens. Knowledge of the criminal world in west London was used to get a gun, silencer and ammunition.
Two men, Nyall Hamlett, 25, and Nathan Cuffy, 26, were acquitted of involvement in the terror plot or knowing what Majeed or Hassane were really intending. But they were convicted of firearms offences.Two men, Nyall Hamlett, 25, and Nathan Cuffy, 26, were acquitted of involvement in the terror plot or knowing what Majeed or Hassane were really intending. But they were convicted of firearms offences.
The prosecution had said that Hamlett, 25, was tasked with finding a gun for the attack on Britain, which he acquired from Nathan Cuffy, 26, whom police found with several other weapons.The prosecution had said that Hamlett, 25, was tasked with finding a gun for the attack on Britain, which he acquired from Nathan Cuffy, 26, whom police found with several other weapons.
Cuffy denied knowing the gun was for terrorist purposes but provided the weapon and seven rounds of ammunition plus a silencer, the jury heard.Cuffy denied knowing the gun was for terrorist purposes but provided the weapon and seven rounds of ammunition plus a silencer, the jury heard.
Hassane had pledged allegiance to Isis in July 2014. The plotters were spurred on by a September 2014 message from Isis urging “its supporters to kill disbelievers in the west”.Hassane had pledged allegiance to Isis in July 2014. The plotters were spurred on by a September 2014 message from Isis urging “its supporters to kill disbelievers in the west”.
There was a five-year age difference between Hassane and Emwazi. Hassane wrote about the influence of the people he met at the mosque, when he was aged 16. He said he “met some good older practicing bros. Started hanging around with them …”There was a five-year age difference between Hassane and Emwazi. Hassane wrote about the influence of the people he met at the mosque, when he was aged 16. He said he “met some good older practicing bros. Started hanging around with them …”
Police declined to comment on any link but the Ladbroke Grove area in west London has been home to a number of Britons who fled to Syria to join Isis and was also home to the terrorists behind attempts to bomb London on 21 July 2005.Police declined to comment on any link but the Ladbroke Grove area in west London has been home to a number of Britons who fled to Syria to join Isis and was also home to the terrorists behind attempts to bomb London on 21 July 2005.
Investigators believe the plotters led by Hassane were in contact and receiving directions from extremists oversees in Syria via encrypted communications via social media platforms.Investigators believe the plotters led by Hassane were in contact and receiving directions from extremists oversees in Syria via encrypted communications via social media platforms.
Hassane left his London home in 2013 and studied at a Khartoum medical school targeted by Islamist extremists.Hassane left his London home in 2013 and studied at a Khartoum medical school targeted by Islamist extremists.
The Islamic Cultural Association there was taken over by a British extremist, Mohammed Fakhri, in 2013. Other students became radicalised, Fakhri himself fled to join Isis, and 17 other British medical students also skipped their studies to join the nascent “caliphate”.The Islamic Cultural Association there was taken over by a British extremist, Mohammed Fakhri, in 2013. Other students became radicalised, Fakhri himself fled to join Isis, and 17 other British medical students also skipped their studies to join the nascent “caliphate”.
The plot to attack London was stopped by a joint operation by Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, and Britain’s domestic and foreign intelligence services.The plot to attack London was stopped by a joint operation by Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, and Britain’s domestic and foreign intelligence services.
The first arrests came one day after the plotters took possession of the firearm, bullets and silencer in late September 2014. They were also trying to get money to buy a moped, which they would use to ride around west London to attack their targets.The first arrests came one day after the plotters took possession of the firearm, bullets and silencer in late September 2014. They were also trying to get money to buy a moped, which they would use to ride around west London to attack their targets.
These are believed to be Shepherd’s Bush police station and a Territorial Army barracks in White City, both in west London. They were reconnoitred by Hassane using Google Street View.These are believed to be Shepherd’s Bush police station and a Territorial Army barracks in White City, both in west London. They were reconnoitred by Hassane using Google Street View.
After his co-conspirators were arrested, Hassane still came back to London from Sudan, determined to carry out the attack.After his co-conspirators were arrested, Hassane still came back to London from Sudan, determined to carry out the attack.
He was being watched by police and security services as he entered Britain on a flight.He was being watched by police and security services as he entered Britain on a flight.
Hassane was known as “the surgeon” and the group of Britons communicated via the encrypted messaging services Telegram and Pidgin, using a mixture of Arabic and London street slang.Hassane was known as “the surgeon” and the group of Britons communicated via the encrypted messaging services Telegram and Pidgin, using a mixture of Arabic and London street slang.
They also used a suite of encryption tools developed by jihadis known as Asrar Mujahideen (Secrets of the Mujahideen), which was first developed by al-Qaida.They also used a suite of encryption tools developed by jihadis known as Asrar Mujahideen (Secrets of the Mujahideen), which was first developed by al-Qaida.
Hassane was friends with Majeed, a physics student at King’s College London, whom he directed from Sudan. The two had met at Westminster City school.Hassane was friends with Majeed, a physics student at King’s College London, whom he directed from Sudan. The two had met at Westminster City school.
Hassane wrote on social media in 2013 that he was offered a place to study biomedicine at King’s College London. He instead decided to study in Sudan, starting a four-year course in 2013.Hassane wrote on social media in 2013 that he was offered a place to study biomedicine at King’s College London. He instead decided to study in Sudan, starting a four-year course in 2013.
In 2013 he was a regular social media user. Writing on an Ask.fm page, Hassane suggested that he preferred to study in Sudan but said he planned to return to London during the holidays and to seek a placement at a hospital when he graduated. He also wrote a tweet: “oi lads I smell war”, which is believed to have referred to a spat between men and women he knew.In 2013 he was a regular social media user. Writing on an Ask.fm page, Hassane suggested that he preferred to study in Sudan but said he planned to return to London during the holidays and to seek a placement at a hospital when he graduated. He also wrote a tweet: “oi lads I smell war”, which is believed to have referred to a spat between men and women he knew.
Friends of Hassane and Mujeed say they had no idea they had been lured by extremism, and that while teenagers they had been opposed to violence.Friends of Hassane and Mujeed say they had no idea they had been lured by extremism, and that while teenagers they had been opposed to violence.
The terrorist plotters will be sentenced at a later date, and face decades in prison.The terrorist plotters will be sentenced at a later date, and face decades in prison.