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Student pleads guilty to attacks on Midlands mosques Student pleads guilty to attacks on Midlands mosques
(about 2 hours later)
A gifted student has pleaded guilty to a campaign of terrorist attacks in the Midlands in which he stabbed to death a Muslim grandfather and staged bomb attacks against mosques in an attempt to murder and maim worshippers. A self confessed racist Ukraininan student has pleaded guilty to trying to incite a race war on Britain's streets by launching a terrorist campaign in the Midlands during which he stabbed a Muslim grandfather to death, then exploded bombs near mosques in an attempt to murder and maim worshippers.
Pavlo Lapshyn, 25, a Ukrainian, admitted to police that he hated anyone who was not white and that he wanted to carry out a series of violent attacks to convulse community relations in Britain and start a race war. Pavlo Lapshyn, 25, a Ukrainian, admitted to police that he hated anyone who was not white and that he wanted to carry out a series of violent attacks to convulse community relations in Britain.
His campaign started in April 2013, five days after his arrival from Ukraine, where he had won a prize to study engineering and gain work experience in the UK. His campaign started in April 2013, five days after his arrival from Ukraine, where he had won a prize to gain work experience in Britain.
When the PhD student was arrested in July, hours before it was feared he could strike again, police found three partially assembled bombs in his Birmingham flat.When the PhD student was arrested in July, hours before it was feared he could strike again, police found three partially assembled bombs in his Birmingham flat.
The Guardian has learned his terror campaign caused alarm at the top levels of the British government, with the domestic security service MI5 joining the police-led hunt.The Guardian has learned his terror campaign caused alarm at the top levels of the British government, with the domestic security service MI5 joining the police-led hunt.
His bombing campaign started after the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in a London street. Lapshyn's final bomb exploded weeks later on the day of Rigby's funeral.His bombing campaign started after the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in a London street. Lapshyn's final bomb exploded weeks later on the day of Rigby's funeral.
Police believe Lapshyn's campaign was not motivated by the murder of the soldier and that the Ukrainian acted alone. Police believe Lapshyn's campaign was not motivated by the murder of the soldier and that the Ukrainian acted alone, and was unconnected to any group.
On Monday, Laphshyn pleaded guilty to all offences at the Old Bailey in London, having confessed to them during police interviews. He will be sentenced on Friday. On Monday, Laphshyn pleaded guilty the murder and staging the bomb attacks at the Old Bailey in London, having confessed to them during police interviews. He will be sentenced on Friday.
Lapshyn stabbed to death 82-year-old Mohammed Saleem in Birmingham in April, then acquired materials for bombs in May. By June he had started placing homemade explosives outside mosques on Fridays, the main day when Muslims attend places of worship. Lapshyn stabbed to death 82-year-old Mohammed Saleem in Birmingham in April, as he walked a few hundred yards from a mosque to his home.
During police interviews Lapshyn confessed when asked about the murder: "I have a racial hatred so I have a motivation, a racial motivation and racial hatred". Police say he did not mention Muslims or a specific hatred of Islam.
After the guilty pleas, Shazia Khan, Mr Saleem's daughter, said of her murdered father: "He was targeted simply because of his faith. His beard and his clothing represented who he was.
"To kill someone because of what they look like and what they believe in is unforgivable."
After the murder Lapshyn acquired materials for bombs during May, 2013. By June he had started placing homemade explosives outside mosques on Fridays, the main day when Muslims attend places of worship.
The device he planted in July, which had 100 nails wrapped around it to maximise the carnage, was aimed at worshippers at the Tipton mosque, where 300 were people expected to attend prayers.The device he planted in July, which had 100 nails wrapped around it to maximise the carnage, was aimed at worshippers at the Tipton mosque, where 300 were people expected to attend prayers.
But Lapshyn did not realise prayers that particular Friday were held one hour later, hence mass casualties were avoided. The device was so powerful it left nails embedded in tree trunks, police said.But Lapshyn did not realise prayers that particular Friday were held one hour later, hence mass casualties were avoided. The device was so powerful it left nails embedded in tree trunks, police said.
The search for Lapshyn was the most intense hunt for a serial bomber on the British mainland in years.The search for Lapshyn was the most intense hunt for a serial bomber on the British mainland in years.
West Midlands police said their inquiries showed Lapshyn acted alone, with no contact with any other group or individual in the UK or abroad. Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, head of the West Midlands counter-terrorism unit, said Lapshyn was "self radicalised" and taught himself how to make bombs off the internet. Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, head of the West Midlands counter-terrorism unit, said Lapshyn was "self radicalised" and taught himself how to make bombs off the internet.
After his arrest Lapshyn told officers the attacks were motivated by his racism. He told police: "I would like to increase racial conflict" and felt a series of explosions would achieve more than one big attack.After his arrest Lapshyn told officers the attacks were motivated by his racism. He told police: "I would like to increase racial conflict" and felt a series of explosions would achieve more than one big attack.
He was explicit about his motivation for the Tipton mosque attack in an interview recorded after he was cautioned: "The purpose was to commit a terrorist act."He was explicit about his motivation for the Tipton mosque attack in an interview recorded after he was cautioned: "The purpose was to commit a terrorist act."
He said he murdered Saleem because "I have a racial hatred so I have a motivation, a racial motivation and racial hatred".
Detectives who interviewed him described him as "calm and calculated".Detectives who interviewed him described him as "calm and calculated".
He even told police he carried out an attack near the mosque in Wolverhampton, which they had previously been unaware of.He even told police he carried out an attack near the mosque in Wolverhampton, which they had previously been unaware of.
After the verdict Home Secretary Theresa May said:"This is a satisfying outcome to a highly distressing case where Pavlo Lapshyn's hatred has robbed a family of a loved one and attempted to cause fear and division within our communities."
Some in the Muslim communities felt the attacks were under reported in the media because Islam was the target, a view shared at one point publicly by West Midlands deputy chief constable David Thompson.
Today Beale said that "both the media and ourselves should reflect".
Lapshyn was a gifted student who was studying for a PhD in machine building.Lapshyn was a gifted student who was studying for a PhD in machine building.
Social media pages belonging to him contain extremist rightwing and Nazi material. There were images of Timothy McVeigh, whose bomb attack on a US government building in Oklahoma in 1995 killed 168 people.Social media pages belonging to him contain extremist rightwing and Nazi material. There were images of Timothy McVeigh, whose bomb attack on a US government building in Oklahoma in 1995 killed 168 people.
Ukrainian researchers say Lapshyn's social media pages contain material relating to Hitler, about contemporary Nazis, and rabidly antisemitic material.Ukrainian researchers say Lapshyn's social media pages contain material relating to Hitler, about contemporary Nazis, and rabidly antisemitic material.
A laptop seized by British police contained an extremist rightwing publication, The Turner Diaries, also believed to have been read by McVeigh.A laptop seized by British police contained an extremist rightwing publication, The Turner Diaries, also believed to have been read by McVeigh.
Further extremist material was found on Lapshyn's laptop, plus details of planning and virtual reconnaissance for the attacks. There were bus timetables to get him to the mosques he attacked, as well as press coverage of Mohammed Saleem's murder.Further extremist material was found on Lapshyn's laptop, plus details of planning and virtual reconnaissance for the attacks. There were bus timetables to get him to the mosques he attacked, as well as press coverage of Mohammed Saleem's murder.
Police say they found no material belonging to British groups such as the British National party or the English Defence League. Nor was there material suggesting his bombing campaign was incited by the terrorist murder of Lee Rigby on 22 May, which occurred a month before Lapshyn's first bomb attack. Police say they found no material belonging to British racist groups such as the British National party or the English Defence League. Nor was there material suggesting his bombing campaign was incited by the terrorist murder of Lee Rigby on 22 May, which occurred a month before Lapshyn's first bomb attack.
The attack on the Tipton mosque, on 12 July, took place on the same day as Rigby's funeral.The attack on the Tipton mosque, on 12 July, took place on the same day as Rigby's funeral.
Lapshyn came to Britain after winning a competition to study at Coventry University and work at a software firm in Birmingham, which also provided him with a flat at the back of its offices in Small Heath, Birmingham. Lapshyn came to Britain after winning a competition to work at a software firm in Birmingham.
At a prize-giving ceremony he stood next to the British ambassador to Ukraine. At a prizegiving ceremony he stood next to the British ambassador to Ukraine.
Police say their inquiries showed no links to groups in Ukraine. Police there had arrested and fined him after an explosion in his flat in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, which may have shown an early interest in explosives.Police say their inquiries showed no links to groups in Ukraine. Police there had arrested and fined him after an explosion in his flat in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, which may have shown an early interest in explosives.
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