UK Terror Plot: Jail Terms for Birmingham Bomb Plotters
Three members of a Birmingham terror cell have been jailed for planning an attack to rival the 7 July and 9/11 atrocities.
The group’s leaders were Irfan Naseer, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali. Naseer, 31, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years, Khalid, 28, was given 18 years and Ali 15 years.
The judge said Naseer wanted part of Birmingham to be a “little war zone”.
Eight other members of the same terror cell were also sent to prison.
Rahin Ahmed was sentenced to 12 years, with a further five on licence. Ashik Ali’s older brother, Bahader, was given six years. Mohammed Rizwan and Mujahid Hussain were each given four years.
Four of the group who travelled to Pakistan for terror training but had second thoughts - Ishaaq Hussain, Shahid Khan, Naweed Ali and Khobaib Hussain - were each sentenced to 40 months.
Irfan Naseer, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali had planned to set off up to eight bombs in rucksacks, using timers to detonate the charges.
Detectives believe the terror plot is the most significant to be uncovered since the 2006 conspiracy to blow up transatlantic airliners using bombs disguised as soft drinks.