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| UK couple found guilty of plotting Christmas terror attack | UK couple found guilty of plotting Christmas terror attack |
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| A couple have been found guilty of plotting a Christmas bomb or chemical attack in the UK. | A couple have been found guilty of plotting a Christmas bomb or chemical attack in the UK. |
| Munir Mohammed volunteered for a “lone wolf” mission as he chatted on Facebook with a man he believed was an Islamic State commander. He enlisted the help of Rowaida El-Hassan, a pharmacist he had met through a dating website, drawing on her knowledge of chemicals needed to make a bomb. | Munir Mohammed volunteered for a “lone wolf” mission as he chatted on Facebook with a man he believed was an Islamic State commander. He enlisted the help of Rowaida El-Hassan, a pharmacist he had met through a dating website, drawing on her knowledge of chemicals needed to make a bomb. |
| At the time of his arrest in December 2016, Mohammed had two of the three components to make a lethal explosive as well as bomb-making manuals, mobile phone detonators and ricin poison. | At the time of his arrest in December 2016, Mohammed had two of the three components to make a lethal explosive as well as bomb-making manuals, mobile phone detonators and ricin poison. |
| Mohammed, 36, of Derby, and El-Hassan, 33, of north-west London, denied preparing terrorist acts between November 2015 and December 2016, but a jury found them guilty following a trial at the Old Bailey. | Mohammed, 36, of Derby, and El-Hassan, 33, of north-west London, denied preparing terrorist acts between November 2015 and December 2016, but a jury found them guilty following a trial at the Old Bailey. |
| The judge, Michael Topolski QC, remanded the pair in custody and said they faced jail when they are sentenced on 22 February. | The judge, Michael Topolski QC, remanded the pair in custody and said they faced jail when they are sentenced on 22 February. |
| The prosecution claimed Mohammed was drawn to El-Hassan, a University College London graduate, on SingleMuslim.com because she referred in her profile to having a master’s in pharmacy. | The prosecution claimed Mohammed was drawn to El-Hassan, a University College London graduate, on SingleMuslim.com because she referred in her profile to having a master’s in pharmacy. |
| She wrote that she was “looking for a simple, very simple, honest and straightforward man who fears Allah” whom she could “vibe with on a spiritual and intellectual level”. | She wrote that she was “looking for a simple, very simple, honest and straightforward man who fears Allah” whom she could “vibe with on a spiritual and intellectual level”. |
| Jurors were told the pair had a “rapidly formed emotional attachment and a shared ideology”. By the spring of 2016 they were in regular contact on WhatsApp and had met more than once in a London park near El-Hassan’s home. As well as arguments, jokes and everyday concerns, they also shared extremist views and videos. | Jurors were told the pair had a “rapidly formed emotional attachment and a shared ideology”. By the spring of 2016 they were in regular contact on WhatsApp and had met more than once in a London park near El-Hassan’s home. As well as arguments, jokes and everyday concerns, they also shared extremist views and videos. |
| Anne Whyte QC, prosecuting, said Mohammed “resolved upon a lone wolf attack” and El-Hassan was well aware of his plan. | Anne Whyte QC, prosecuting, said Mohammed “resolved upon a lone wolf attack” and El-Hassan was well aware of his plan. |
| In August 2016 Mohammed was put in touch via Facebook with a man he believed was an Isis commander known as Abubakr Kurdi. He pledged allegiance to Kurdi and offered to participate in “a new job in the UK”, said to mean an act of terrorism, jurors heard. | In August 2016 Mohammed was put in touch via Facebook with a man he believed was an Isis commander known as Abubakr Kurdi. He pledged allegiance to Kurdi and offered to participate in “a new job in the UK”, said to mean an act of terrorism, jurors heard. |
| The following month Mohammed complained he had not received his instructions, saying in coded language: “If possible send how we make dough [explosives] for Syrian bread [a bomb] and other types of food.” | The following month Mohammed complained he had not received his instructions, saying in coded language: “If possible send how we make dough [explosives] for Syrian bread [a bomb] and other types of food.” |
| El-Hassan advised fellow divorcee Mohammed on what chemicals to buy for a bomb, jurors were told. | El-Hassan advised fellow divorcee Mohammed on what chemicals to buy for a bomb, jurors were told. |
| In November Mohammed got hold of a video containing information on how to manufacture ricin, the court heard. | In November Mohammed got hold of a video containing information on how to manufacture ricin, the court heard. |
| In the days before his arrest, Mohammed was captured on CCTV in an Asda store buying nail polish remover in the mistaken belief it contained a chemical component of the explosive TATP. He also looked at pressure cookers at Ace Discounts, which the prosecution said could be used to contain the explosives. | In the days before his arrest, Mohammed was captured on CCTV in an Asda store buying nail polish remover in the mistaken belief it contained a chemical component of the explosive TATP. He also looked at pressure cookers at Ace Discounts, which the prosecution said could be used to contain the explosives. |
| When police raided his home on 12 December 2016, they found hydrogen peroxide in a wardrobe and hydrochloric acid in the freezer. Mohammed denied the chemicals were for a bomb, claiming the hydrochloric acid was to clean the alloys on his car and the peroxide was to treat a burn. | When police raided his home on 12 December 2016, they found hydrogen peroxide in a wardrobe and hydrochloric acid in the freezer. Mohammed denied the chemicals were for a bomb, claiming the hydrochloric acid was to clean the alloys on his car and the peroxide was to treat a burn. |
| El-Hassan, who came to Britain from Sudan at the age of three, told jurors she had sulphuric acid for her drains and had face masks to wear while she dealt with a damp problem in her flat. | El-Hassan, who came to Britain from Sudan at the age of three, told jurors she had sulphuric acid for her drains and had face masks to wear while she dealt with a damp problem in her flat. |
| Asked whether she had feelings for Mohammed, she said: “It was mixed feelings at the time. Yes, there was emotional attachment.” | Asked whether she had feelings for Mohammed, she said: “It was mixed feelings at the time. Yes, there was emotional attachment.” |
| Mohammed, a Sudanese national, arrived in Britain in the back of a lorry and claimed asylum in February 2014, the court heard. | Mohammed, a Sudanese national, arrived in Britain in the back of a lorry and claimed asylum in February 2014, the court heard. |
| After waiting for more than two years, he appealed to the Derby MP Margaret Beckett for help with his immigration problems. The Labour MP was informed by authorities that his case was not straightforward and had been referred to a specialist unit for consideration. | After waiting for more than two years, he appealed to the Derby MP Margaret Beckett for help with his immigration problems. The Labour MP was informed by authorities that his case was not straightforward and had been referred to a specialist unit for consideration. |