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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Woman convicted of helping husband prepare UK terror attack | Woman convicted of helping husband prepare UK terror attack |
| (17 days later) | |
| A woman has been convicted of helping her husband prepare to carry out a terror attack after buying a large combat knife. | A woman has been convicted of helping her husband prepare to carry out a terror attack after buying a large combat knife. |
| Ummariyat Mirza and Madidah Taheer practised carrying out a knife attack at their home in Birmingham. | Ummariyat Mirza and Madidah Taheer practised carrying out a knife attack at their home in Birmingham. |
| Police believe the attack would have most likely taken place in the West Midlands, but say it could have happened anywhere. | Police believe the attack would have most likely taken place in the West Midlands, but say it could have happened anywhere. |
| Taheer, 21, was convicted at Woolwich crown court in London on Thursday of preparing an act of terrorism. Her husband pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier hearing. | Taheer, 21, was convicted at Woolwich crown court in London on Thursday of preparing an act of terrorism. Her husband pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier hearing. |
| In 2015, before they were married, Taheer sent Mirza a message that read: “Can we get married already ffs. I want u to kill ppl for me. I have a list.” | In 2015, before they were married, Taheer sent Mirza a message that read: “Can we get married already ffs. I want u to kill ppl for me. I have a list.” |
| 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.” |
| The prosecution said these exchanges showed they were inspired by the Islamic State terror group. | The prosecution said these exchanges showed they were inspired by the Islamic State terror group. |
| After the conviction, Det Ch Supt Matt Ward, the head of West Midlands counter-terrorism unit, said: “Earlier this year we received information that they were planning to carry out a terrorist act in the UK. | After the conviction, Det Ch Supt Matt Ward, the head of West Midlands counter-terrorism unit, said: “Earlier this year we received information that they were planning to carry out a terrorist act in the UK. |
| “We were able to establish that they were in advanced stages of preparation. We think that they had radical extreme views for some time – back to 2015. This year they have accelerated that extremism. They had purchased a training knife to carry out a practice of the attack. | “We were able to establish that they were in advanced stages of preparation. We think that they had radical extreme views for some time – back to 2015. This year they have accelerated that extremism. They had purchased a training knife to carry out a practice of the attack. |
| “They then bought a large hunting knife that you conceal in clothing in order to carry out an attack. We had two guilty pleas and a guilty verdict because they were sharing extremely vile and disturbing extremist material. | “They then bought a large hunting knife that you conceal in clothing in order to carry out an attack. We had two guilty pleas and a guilty verdict because they were sharing extremely vile and disturbing extremist material. |
| “We are confident that, had we not intervened when we did, they would have carried out an attack. | “We are confident that, had we not intervened when we did, they would have carried out an attack. |
| “The attack probably would have taken place in Birmingham or the West Midlands – but it could have been anywhere in the UK.” | “The attack probably would have taken place in Birmingham or the West Midlands – but it could have been anywhere in the UK.” |
| The couple – along with Mirza’s sister, Zainab Mirza, who previously admitted sending him terrorist material – will be sentenced later. | The couple – along with Mirza’s sister, Zainab Mirza, who previously admitted sending him terrorist material – will be sentenced later. |