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/isis-attacks-umar-haque-london-terror-death-squad-children-recruit-london-a8236731.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Isis fanatic tried to recruit children for 'death squad' to launch terror attacks in London | Isis fanatic tried to recruit children for 'death squad' to launch terror attacks in London |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An Isis supporter has been convicted of trying to recruit an “army of children” to launch a series of terror attacks in London. | An Isis supporter has been convicted of trying to recruit an “army of children” to launch a series of terror attacks in London. |
| Umar Haque brainwashed young pupils he taught at an Islamic school and mosque and made them act out atrocities. | Umar Haque brainwashed young pupils he taught at an Islamic school and mosque and made them act out atrocities. |
| The 25-year-old was dragged from the dock ranting after being convicted of preparing for acts of terrorism. | The 25-year-old was dragged from the dock ranting after being convicted of preparing for acts of terrorism. |
| The Old Bailey heard he planned to launch simultaneous terror attacks and had handwritten a long list of potential targets, including Big Ben, the Tube, Westfield shopping centre, Heathrow Airport and against numerous others targets including courts, Shia Muslims, journalists and far-right groups. | |
| Haque became “fascinated” by the Westminster attack in March 2017 and discussed bringing his own “death squad” to the capital. | |
| In a bugged conversation four days after the first Isis-claimed attack in London, he allegedly told a friend: “So what I want to personally is launch different attacks in all the different areas, one in Westminster, one in Stratford, one in Forest Gate, one...in so many different areas, yeah. | |
| "Immediately there's one focus to all the police. Get off the streets. Civilians get off the streets. London will be, not just Westminster attack, entire London...we're here to cause terror, my brother. | |
| “We are a death squad sent by Allah and his messengers to avenge my Arab brothers' blood." | |
| While he continued to plot, Haque was teaching pupils aged between 11 and 16 at the Lantern of Knowledge Islamic school in Leyton, east London. | |
| He had also assumed the role of a teacher at the Ripple Road Mosque in Barking and "manipulated" children, telling them he intended to die a martyr and Isis was "good". | |
| Prosecutors said he played terrorist videos depicting the burning of passports and beheadings with a knife or sword to "encourage them into his mindset". | |
| Haque showed children "horrifying" images, including one of a dead boy, saying they would meet the same fate if they did not "join" and promise to become a martyr. | |
| Haque made the children do ”push-ups, races and grappling“ and act out the roles of police and attackers in scenarios involving weapons and a car bomb, while he shouted "Allahu Akhbar". | |
| Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, told jurors the defendant swore the children to secrecy, adding: "He said whatever they spoke about in the mosque must stay in the mosque." | |
| Even though he had no teaching qualifications, Haque had access to 250 youngsters at two east London schools and the Ripple Road madrassa over five years, the court heard. | |
| Haque came to the attention of authorities when he tried to travel to Turkey from Heathrow in April 2016, with the route closely watched after being used by hundreds of British jihadis who joined Isis in Syria. | |
| An intelligence operation saw conversations in a contact’s home and car, and Haque’s vehicle covertly recorded, the court heard, showing the pair discuss fears of a "snitch" and justification for killing civilians during one five-hour conversation. | |
| Haque discussed using a car, leaving bombs in a lift, and going for “a quick spin” around Westminster, and separately compared Isis gaining more territory to “us winning the world cup”. | |
| Haque proclaimed his support for Isis while giving evidence but denied plotting terror attacks, claiming he had only been “pondering” hypothetical atrocities. | |
| He admitted separate charges of collecting information useful for terrorism disseminating a terrorist document. | |
| When Haque was arrested in May last year, police seized a large kitchen knife from his Ford Focus and a collection of Isis propaganda from his home. | |
| Two co-conspirators told jurors they did not believe he was serious about launching an attack. | |
| Abuthaher Mamun, 19, Muhammad Abid, 27, who knew Haque through his local mosque in Barking, east London, were convicted for aiding his plot. | Abuthaher Mamun, 19, Muhammad Abid, 27, who knew Haque through his local mosque in Barking, east London, were convicted for aiding his plot. |
| Mamun was found guilty of preparing for acts of terrorism for helping attack planning and raised money through trading in options. | Mamun was found guilty of preparing for acts of terrorism for helping attack planning and raised money through trading in options. |
| Abid was involved in ”discussion and lower level of support“, jurors were told, and he was convicted of failing to disclose information about the plot to authorities. | |
| Haque was acquitted of conspiring to possess firearms along with Nadeem Patel, 26, who was also found not guilty of the charge but pleaded guilty to possessing a handgun. | Haque was acquitted of conspiring to possess firearms along with Nadeem Patel, 26, who was also found not guilty of the charge but pleaded guilty to possessing a handgun. |
| Additional reporting by PA | |