By James Simons
An Islamic State terrorist has been jailed for life after plotting to kill the Prime Minister Theresa May. Naa’imur Zakariyah Rahman, 21, wanted to bomb the gates of 10 Downing Street, kill guards and then attack Theresa May with a knife or gun. He had pledged allegiance to IS and collected what he thought was an explosives-packed jacket and rucksack when he was arrested last November.
On Friday he was caged for life with a minimum term of 30 years at the Old Bailey. The court heard that the drifter, originally from Birmingham, thought he was being helped by an IS handler when in fact he was talking to undercover officers. His callous plans were thwarted by a network of undercover counter-terrorism officers from the Metropolitan Police, the FBI and MI5. Rahman, from Finchley, north London, was found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism in Britain. Midway through the trial, he admitted helping a friend to join IS in Libya by recording an IS sponsorship video. The trial had heard how Rahman was encouraged by an uncle who travelled to Syria to fight and was killed in a drone strike last June.
Two other uncles had been jailed in August 2016 for funding terrorism. His concerned mother moved to north London to get away from their influence, and Rahman was referred to the de-radicalisation Channel programme. Rahman came to the attention of police in July last year when he complained he was being blackmailed, but failed to attend an appointment. In August last year he was arrested on suspicion of sending indecent images to under-age girls, but escaped prosecution. However,cops discovered disturbing messages on his mobile phone that indicated he shared the extreme views of terrorism .
His evil streak was sparked after his Uncle’s death,Rahman made contact with an FBI agent posing as an IS official online, who introduced him to an MI5 role-player. The defendant revealed his plans, saying: ‘I want to do a suicide bomb on Parliament. I want to attempt to kill Theresa May. ‘There are lorries here with big gas tankers, if a brother can drive it next to Parliament I will bomb.’ He later described using a suicide belt, a drone, an IED and poison, referred to as ‘P’ or ‘curry mix’. By early November last year, he appeared settled on an attack on 10 Downing street with a suicide bomb, gun or knife. He told an undercover officer: ‘(God willing) will be very big if I’m successful. I can’t mess up. I can’t get (martyrdom) if I get caught.’
SNARED
Rahman was snared after he made contact with an FBI agent posing as an IS official online. The posing agent then introduced him to an MI5 role-player. The defendant foolisly revealed his plans, saying: ‘I want to do a suicide bomb on Parliament. I want to attempt to kill Theresa May. ‘There are lorries here with big gas tankers, if a brother can drive it next to Parliament I will bomb.’ He later described using a suicide belt, a drone, an IED and poison, referred to as ‘P’ or ‘curry mix’. By early November last year, he appeared settled on an attack on 10 Downing street with a suicide bomb, gun or knife. He told an undercover officer: ‘(God willing) will be very big if I’m successful. I can’t mess up. I can’t get (martyrdom) if I get caught.’ At last, another terrorist in the making will spend the rest of his days in prison, well away from the public.