FOUR MEN from East London who all took part in trying to recruit a group of 55 children to carry out organise a massive terrorist attack on London were given long jail sentences at the Old Bailey last week.
•Umar Ahmed Haque, 25, from Newham, who was the ringleader of the group, was jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 25 years for two counts of preparation of terrorist acts; four counts of collection of information useful to terrorism; and one count of dissemination of terrorist publications.
•Abuthaher Mamun, 29, from Barking, who helped Haque plan the attack and tried to raise money to fund the plan, received a special custodial sentence for one count of preparation of terrorist acts. He was jailed for 13 years but is not automatically eligible for parole upon serving half his sentence.
•Muhammad Abid, 27, from Newham – Haque’s confidante as he developed his plan – was jailed for four years and three months for one count of having information about acts of terrorism.
•Nadeem Patel, 26, who was Haque’s neighbour in Newham, was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment at an earlier hearing on Friday, 2nd March for possession of a prohibited weapon.
The 55 children whom Haque had begun to groom to act as his accomplices were all supported by social services – and 35 of them were provided with long term support.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said, “I welcome today’s sentences, which have ensured that three men complicit in a plot to radicalise vulnerable young children and use them to attack businesses and communities in London are now in prison.
“Haque was a dangerous man who was inspired by attacks in Europe and Westminster. He wanted to orchestrate numerous attacks at once, using guns, knives, bombs and large cars to kill innocent people.”
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