This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/katie-hopkins-beheading-fantasy-madihah-taheer-convicted-terrorism-offences-isis-latest-updates-a8021006.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Madihah Taheer: Woman who fantasised about beheading Katie Hopkins convicted over terror plot | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman who said she fantasised about beheading Katie Hopkins has been convicted for helping plot a terror attack. | A woman who said she fantasised about beheading Katie Hopkins has been convicted for helping plot a terror attack. |
| Madihah Taheer, 21, was found guilty of preparing to commit terrorist acts after a court heard she had bought her husband a martial arts dummy so he could practice stabbing techniques. | Madihah Taheer, 21, was found guilty of preparing to commit terrorist acts after a court heard she had bought her husband a martial arts dummy so he could practice stabbing techniques. |
| Ummariyat Mirza previously pleaded guilty to planning a knife attack after being arrested by armed police in March, but his wife had denied knowledge of the plot. | Ummariyat Mirza previously pleaded guilty to planning a knife attack after being arrested by armed police in March, but his wife had denied knowledge of the plot. |
| Woolwich Crown Court was told that Taheer, who was pregnant at the time, squabbled with her husband on WhatsApp about the cost of the knife he wanted to buy, telling him: “They all do the same thing.” | Woolwich Crown Court was told that Taheer, who was pregnant at the time, squabbled with her husband on WhatsApp about the cost of the knife he wanted to buy, telling him: “They all do the same thing.” |
| Using her debit card, she purchased a combat knife cost for £121, the dummy for £275 and plastic “training” knife for £9.60. | |
| The dummy, depicting a white man’s torso, was found in their home in Birmingham with slash marks on the forehead, across the throat and abdomen. | The dummy, depicting a white man’s torso, was found in their home in Birmingham with slash marks on the forehead, across the throat and abdomen. |
| Weeks before he was arrested just days after the Westminster attack, Mirza also bought a cord to make a concealed harness for his knife, while researching potential targets including a military base in the city. | Weeks before he was arrested just days after the Westminster attack, Mirza also bought a cord to make a concealed harness for his knife, while researching potential targets including a military base in the city. |
| The jury heard that the couple viewed and shared Isis propaganda and discussed extremist views before their marriage. | The jury heard that the couple viewed and shared Isis propaganda and discussed extremist views before their marriage. |
| “Can we get married already ffs. I want u to kill ppl for me. I have a list,” Taheer wrote in September 2015. | “Can we get married already ffs. I want u to kill ppl for me. I have a list,” Taheer wrote in September 2015. |
| Mirza replied: “The day of nikkah [marriage] I’ll kill em all. Give me the list. The only thing that stops me is we are not married. I will defo I’m not joking.” | Mirza replied: “The day of nikkah [marriage] I’ll kill em all. Give me the list. The only thing that stops me is we are not married. I will defo I’m not joking.” |
| On that list was Ms Hopkins, a commentator known for her controversial columns on Islam, terror and migration. | On that list was Ms Hopkins, a commentator known for her controversial columns on Islam, terror and migration. |
| "I fantasise about Katie Hopkins’ head,” Taheer told her husband. “She’s the biggest kuthi of them all.” | "I fantasise about Katie Hopkins’ head,” Taheer told her husband. “She’s the biggest kuthi of them all.” |
| Mirza, a former accountant, had named Paul Golding, the co-leader of far-right group Britain First, as one of his targets. | Mirza, a former accountant, had named Paul Golding, the co-leader of far-right group Britain First, as one of his targets. |
| His sister, 23-year-old Zainub Mirza, previously admitted encouraging the plot by sharing graphic Isis videos and propaganda, including footage showing hostages being beheaded and drowned. | His sister, 23-year-old Zainub Mirza, previously admitted encouraging the plot by sharing graphic Isis videos and propaganda, including footage showing hostages being beheaded and drowned. |
| All three defendants will be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court, with a provisional hearing set for 1 December. | All three defendants will be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court, with a provisional hearing set for 1 December. |
| The plot is among seven foiled in the UK so far this year, which has seen record levels of terror arrests. | The plot is among seven foiled in the UK so far this year, which has seen record levels of terror arrests. |
| Counter-terror police swooped after an MI5 operation tracking Mirza, who had expressed a desire to travel to Isis territory in Syria alongside his wife. | Counter-terror police swooped after an MI5 operation tracking Mirza, who had expressed a desire to travel to Isis territory in Syria alongside his wife. |
| DCI Matt Ward, head of the West Midlands Counter Terrorist Unit, said: “Mirza’s plan was escalating quickly so the decision to carry out arrests in a busy Birmingham street at rush hour was not taken lightly. | DCI Matt Ward, head of the West Midlands Counter Terrorist Unit, said: “Mirza’s plan was escalating quickly so the decision to carry out arrests in a busy Birmingham street at rush hour was not taken lightly. |
| “The planning had begun in 2015 but quickly gathered momentum in terms of the volume and especially the nature of the shared material with the majority of videos shared by Zainub Mirza to her brother." | “The planning had begun in 2015 but quickly gathered momentum in terms of the volume and especially the nature of the shared material with the majority of videos shared by Zainub Mirza to her brother." |
| DCI Ward said seized mobile phones revealed a significant quality of material showing the trio's "mind-set", adding: "The communications between Mirza and his sister reveal that they shared extremist material and praised killings carried out by Daesh [Isis]." | DCI Ward said seized mobile phones revealed a significant quality of material showing the trio's "mind-set", adding: "The communications between Mirza and his sister reveal that they shared extremist material and praised killings carried out by Daesh [Isis]." |
| A stockpile of air guns and replica firearms were also found at Mirza and Taheer's home, with his phone containing images of him posing with them. | |
| Prosecutors said Taheer and Mirza were “inspired by Isis” but there was no indication of formal contact with the group in the case. | Prosecutors said Taheer and Mirza were “inspired by Isis” but there was no indication of formal contact with the group in the case. |
| Sue Hemming, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s terror division, said: “There can be little doubt that Mirza had the knife so he could carry out a terrorist atrocity in the UK. | Sue Hemming, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s terror division, said: “There can be little doubt that Mirza had the knife so he could carry out a terrorist atrocity in the UK. |
| “The prosecution’s case was that his wife was a willing accomplice who bought the knife knowing what he was planning to do. | “The prosecution’s case was that his wife was a willing accomplice who bought the knife knowing what he was planning to do. |
| “This couple posed a serious threat to the public in Britain and now face the prospect of time in prison where they will no longer be a danger.” | “This couple posed a serious threat to the public in Britain and now face the prospect of time in prison where they will no longer be a danger.” |
| They join several terrorists who have plotted action at home after being unable to join the physical “caliphate” – a phenomenon experts warn is driving a rising terror threat in the UK. | They join several terrorists who have plotted action at home after being unable to join the physical “caliphate” – a phenomenon experts warn is driving a rising terror threat in the UK. |
| Security services had braced for the potential return of hundreds of Isis fighters from the battlefields in Syria and Iraq, but the CPS said the vast majority of current terror cases involve home-grown extremists. | |
| Isis recently issued its first formal call for women to carry out terror attacks and join fighting, having previously restricted female followers to supporting its fighters and indoctrinating children. | Isis recently issued its first formal call for women to carry out terror attacks and join fighting, having previously restricted female followers to supporting its fighters and indoctrinating children. |