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Delivery driver jailed for planning terror attack on US soldier in Britain Delivery driver jailed for planning terror attack on US soldier in Britain
(35 minutes later)
A British Islamic extremist has been jailed for life for planning a terror attack on American military personnel in the UK.A British Islamic extremist has been jailed for life for planning a terror attack on American military personnel in the UK.
Junead Khan, 25, was a “committed supporter” of Islamic State and plotted to kill a soldier with a knife like the one used by Mohammed Emwazi, the notorious Isis extremist known as “Jihadi John”, whom he idolised.Junead Khan, 25, was a “committed supporter” of Islamic State and plotted to kill a soldier with a knife like the one used by Mohammed Emwazi, the notorious Isis extremist known as “Jihadi John”, whom he idolised.
Khan used his agency job as a delivery driver with a pharmaceutical firm as cover to scout US air force bases in East Anglia for potential victims. Khan used his agency job as a delivery driver with a pharmaceutical firm as cover to scout out US air force bases in East Anglia for potential victims.
Detectives discovered he had been exchanging chilling online messages with an Isis fighter in Syria calling himself Abu Hussain. Prosecutors said Hussain was the British-born fanatic Junaid Hussain, who was killed in a US drone strike in the Isis stronghold of Raqqa weeks after his link with the planned UK attack was discovered.Detectives discovered he had been exchanging chilling online messages with an Isis fighter in Syria calling himself Abu Hussain. Prosecutors said Hussain was the British-born fanatic Junaid Hussain, who was killed in a US drone strike in the Isis stronghold of Raqqa weeks after his link with the planned UK attack was discovered.
One message described an attack on military personnel which they compared to the brutal murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich in 2013.One message described an attack on military personnel which they compared to the brutal murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich in 2013.
Sentencing Khan at Kingston crown court in London, Mr Justice Edis said: “Junead Khan was not far from the commission of the murder to be committed by horrifying method in the street in order to create terror and terrorist propaganda in this country. His offence was so serious that a life sentence must be imposed.”Sentencing Khan at Kingston crown court in London, Mr Justice Edis said: “Junead Khan was not far from the commission of the murder to be committed by horrifying method in the street in order to create terror and terrorist propaganda in this country. His offence was so serious that a life sentence must be imposed.”
Khan, from Luton, was found guilty of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts between May and July last year.Khan, from Luton, was found guilty of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts between May and July last year.
The court heard that a psychiatrist had assessed him and concluded that he “poses a risk of becoming a violent extremist”.The court heard that a psychiatrist had assessed him and concluded that he “poses a risk of becoming a violent extremist”.
Khan was arrested in July last year and police found pictures on his phone of him posing in his bedroom with an Isis-style black flag later found in the attic.Khan was arrested in July last year and police found pictures on his phone of him posing in his bedroom with an Isis-style black flag later found in the attic.
His computer was found to contain an al-Qaida bomb manual and Amazon searches for a large combat knife.His computer was found to contain an al-Qaida bomb manual and Amazon searches for a large combat knife.
Police officers had visited Khan as part of the national anti-extremism programme Prevent, but he mocked the initiative in a series of WhatsApp messages.Police officers had visited Khan as part of the national anti-extremism programme Prevent, but he mocked the initiative in a series of WhatsApp messages.
Khan stared straight ahead as he was sentenced. He had also been found guilty, along with his uncle, Shazib Khan, 23, of preparing to go to Syria to join Isis.Khan stared straight ahead as he was sentenced. He had also been found guilty, along with his uncle, Shazib Khan, 23, of preparing to go to Syria to join Isis.
Shazib Khan was given an extended sentence of 13 years in prison. He will have to serve eight years in custody.Shazib Khan was given an extended sentence of 13 years in prison. He will have to serve eight years in custody.
Edis said the two men, who have Bangladeshi backgrounds, had rejected the values and opportunities Britain had given them.Edis said the two men, who have Bangladeshi backgrounds, had rejected the values and opportunities Britain had given them.
He said: “They have both received education in this country at the public expense. They have lived as citizens of a free country which is committed to equality under the law.He said: “They have both received education in this country at the public expense. They have lived as citizens of a free country which is committed to equality under the law.
“They both believe that sharia law is the only legitimate law and both reject democracy because it involves law being made by people and not by God.“They both believe that sharia law is the only legitimate law and both reject democracy because it involves law being made by people and not by God.
“They have rejected the protection of the law of this country and education they have received by becoming committed supporters of Isis – an organisation which wishes to control the world and which will stop short of no barbarity in order to do so.”“They have rejected the protection of the law of this country and education they have received by becoming committed supporters of Isis – an organisation which wishes to control the world and which will stop short of no barbarity in order to do so.”