TWO ISIS-linked students who plotted drive-by executions of British
soldiers and police officers were jailed for life on Friday.
Tarik Hassane, 22, the son of a Saudi diplomat, and Suhaib Majeed, 22, planned
to target their victims while riding on the back of mopeds around the
streets of London.
The pair even attended the same Al-Manaar Mosque as vile terrorist Jihadi
John, later to be identified as west Londoner Mohammed Emwazi.
Majeed, a student at elite London university King’s College, was told he must
serve at least 20 years behind bars while Hassane was handed a minimum term
of 21 years.
Sentencing the pair, Mr Justice Wilkie said: “It is shocking, tragic and
deplorable that you, two young British men, educated through the UK school
system, undertaking university courses, should be so influenced by the
bloodthirsty version of Islam presented by Isis and other similarly minded
groups, that you decided to take up arms against your fellow British
citizens and those charged with protecting them in the streets of your own
city.”
The Old Bailey heard how ex-medical student Hassane had travelled to war-torn
Syria while his accomplice Majeed had received instructions online from
fundamentalists in the Middle Eastern state.
The pair sourced a gun and ammunition in London but police swooped before they
could carry out the murderous plot.
It was heard how they may have been inspired by an ISIS fatwa, which urged
followers to “strike their police, security and intelligence members”.
It continued: “If you can, kill a disbelieving American or European –
especially the spiteful and filthy French – or an Australian, or a Canadian
or any other disbeliever waging war.”
When anti-terror cops raided Majeed’s West London home, the radical threw a
self-loading Baikal pistol, magazine and silencer from his bedroom window
and was arrested along with Momen Motasim, who was later released without
charge.
All the while Hassane was trying to orchestrate the plan from his student digs
in Sudan.
Police believe he intended to carry out a ‘lone wolf’ attack and was known to
have viewed the Parachute Regiment’s Territorial Army barracks in White
City, West London.
He had also observed a police station in Shepherd’s Bush.
Hassane was arrested when he returned to the UK in October last year.
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The jury heard how the police believed it to be their biggest-ever
investigation in terms of data processed.
If all documents were printed, they would stretch for 75 miles, anti-terror
police chief Commander Dean Haydon said.
Comparing the case to the tragic murder of drummer Lee Rigby on the streets on
Woolwich, he added: “I would say this plan has evolved and became more
complex than other attacks over recent years.
“With Lee Rigby’s tragic death two individuals were involved in the street
using knives.
“This is an elevation of complexity – acquiring a moped, committing a drive-by
shooting, acquiring a firearm, silencer and ammunition, in broad daylight
targeting police, military and members of the public before making their
getaway.”
Hassane, of North Kensington, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder and
preparation of terrorist acts. He was jailed for life.
Majeed, of Paddington, denied the same charges but was found guilty and also
handed a life sentence.
Petty criminal Nathan Cuffy, 26, and ex-convict and Nyall Hamlett, 25,
admitted helping the pair acquire a weapon but were acquitted of knowing
about the terror plot.
Hamlett was handed six and a half years in jail while Cuffy received 11 years.