This article is from the source 'guardian' 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 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/30/terror-attack-couple-dating-site-court-hears-munir-mohammed-rowaida-el-hassan
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Couple planned terror attack after meeting on dating site, court hears | Couple planned terror attack after meeting on dating site, court hears |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A couple plotted an Islamic State-inspired attack on Britain with ricin or a home-made bomb after meeting on a dating website, a court has heard. | |
| Munir Mohammed allegedly volunteered for a new job in the UK, in Facebook communications with a man he believed was an Isis commander. He enlisted the help of pharmacist Rowaida El-Hassan, drawing on her knowledge of the chemicals needed to make a bomb, jurors were told. | |
| The pair, of Sudanese origin, had met through a dating website called singlemuslim.com, the Old Bailey heard. | The pair, of Sudanese origin, had met through a dating website called singlemuslim.com, the Old Bailey heard. |
| On the site, Mohammed described himself as a British citizen from Sudan who was looking for a wife and partner to have children with. | On the site, Mohammed described himself as a British citizen from Sudan who was looking for a wife and partner to have children with. |
| Hassan, who graduated from University College London, referred to having a master’s degree in pharmacy in her profile. | Hassan, who graduated from University College London, referred to having a master’s degree in pharmacy in her profile. |
| She said: “I am looking for a simple, very simple, honest and straightforward man who fears Allah before anything else. I am looking for a man I can vibe with on a spiritual and intellectual level. Someone who can teach me new things and inspire me.” | She said: “I am looking for a simple, very simple, honest and straightforward man who fears Allah before anything else. I am looking for a man I can vibe with on a spiritual and intellectual level. Someone who can teach me new things and inspire me.” |
| It is alleged they had a “rapidly formed emotional attachment and a shared ideology”. | It is alleged they had a “rapidly formed emotional attachment and a shared ideology”. |
| At the time of his arrest, Mohammed allegedly had two of the three components for TATP explosives and instruction manuals on how to prepare explosives, mobile phone detonators and ricin. | At the time of his arrest, Mohammed allegedly had two of the three components for TATP explosives and instruction manuals on how to prepare explosives, mobile phone detonators and ricin. |
| Mohammed, 36, of Derby, and Hassan, 33, of north-west London, are accused of preparing terrorist acts between November 2015 and December 2016. Both deny the charge. | Mohammed, 36, of Derby, and Hassan, 33, of north-west London, are accused of preparing terrorist acts between November 2015 and December 2016. Both deny the charge. |
| Prosecutor Anne Whyte QC said: “This is a case which reflects the age in which we live. It demonstrates the relative ease with which acts of terrorism can be prepared, thanks to the internet. The prosecution allege that Munir Mohammed had resolved upon a lone wolf attack and that Rowaida El-Hassan was aware of his engagement with such a plan.” | Prosecutor Anne Whyte QC said: “This is a case which reflects the age in which we live. It demonstrates the relative ease with which acts of terrorism can be prepared, thanks to the internet. The prosecution allege that Munir Mohammed had resolved upon a lone wolf attack and that Rowaida El-Hassan was aware of his engagement with such a plan.” |
| The defendants had exchanged materials and views at a time Mohammed was planning an attack “motivated and inspired by what he had seen and heard on social media,” the lawyer said. | The defendants had exchanged materials and views at a time Mohammed was planning an attack “motivated and inspired by what he had seen and heard on social media,” the lawyer said. |
| Whyte said: “Rowaida El-Hassan had a professional knowledge of chemicals because of her professional training and qualifications. She assisted Mohammed by providing him with information about chemical components required for bomb-making and how to source them and she assisted his online research about the manufacture of ricin using castor beans. | Whyte said: “Rowaida El-Hassan had a professional knowledge of chemicals because of her professional training and qualifications. She assisted Mohammed by providing him with information about chemical components required for bomb-making and how to source them and she assisted his online research about the manufacture of ricin using castor beans. |
| “In doing so she supported him in his engagement with attack-planning.” | “In doing so she supported him in his engagement with attack-planning.” |
| Mohammed had allegedly pledged allegiance to an Isis commander known online as Abubakr Kurdi. | Mohammed had allegedly pledged allegiance to an Isis commander known online as Abubakr Kurdi. |
| In September last year, Mohammed allegedly complained he had not received his instructions, saying: “If possible send how we make dough for Syrian bread and other types of food.” Whyte told jurors “dough” was a code word for explosives and “Syrian bread and other types of food” was a crude reference to a device. | In September last year, Mohammed allegedly complained he had not received his instructions, saying: “If possible send how we make dough for Syrian bread and other types of food.” Whyte told jurors “dough” was a code word for explosives and “Syrian bread and other types of food” was a crude reference to a device. |
| In November last year, Mohammed got hold of a video containing information on how to manufacture ricin, the court heard. | In November last year, Mohammed got hold of a video containing information on how to manufacture ricin, the court heard. |
| Whyte said: “He requested, using basic code, the receipt of bomb-making instructions and had expressed willingness to participate in ‘a new job in the UK’ - in other words, in an act of terrorism involving extreme violence.” | Whyte said: “He requested, using basic code, the receipt of bomb-making instructions and had expressed willingness to participate in ‘a new job in the UK’ - in other words, in an act of terrorism involving extreme violence.” |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |