Teenage would-be terrorist who planned Lee Rigby copycat killing is jailed for eight years

 
Plot: Kazi Islam (Picture: Metropolitan Police)
Rachel Blundy29 May 2015
WEST END FINAL

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A teenage would-be terrorist who plotted to carry out a Lee Rigby copycat killing was today jailed for eight years.

Kazi Islam, 19, planned to murder a soldier with a knife in the same way that Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale killed Fusilier Rigby on the streets of Woolwich in May 2013.

He also bought the ingredients to make a pipe bomb with the help of an impressionable teenager, 19-year-old Harry Thomas, who has learning difficulties.

But after grooming Mr Thomas over several months and convincing him to help make the homemade IEDs, police officers searched his home in Manor Park, east London, in July last year and seized several phones and computers as evidence.

When detectives investigated the devices, they learnt of Islam's plot and discovered how he was trying to "bully" Mr Thomas into helping him build the homemade bombs, Scotland Yard said.

In some of their text conversations, Islam referred to needing "ingredients" for a "cake", but it emerged that he was actually discussing how to make a bomb, police said.

Islam, of Meanley Road, Manor Park, denied preparing to commit acts of terrorism but was convicted following a trial at the Old Bailey.

He was today jailed for eight years in a young offenders institute.

After Islam's sentencing today, police appealed for anyone who suspects a friend of family member of hatching similar plots to speak to them.

Commander Richard Walton, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) said: “Islam groomed and bullied a vulnerable man to try and get him to make a bomb or attack soldiers.

“We were able to intervene early on this occasion and prevent what we believe would have been an act of terrorism in the UK."

He added: "We continue to appeal to anyone who may have knowledge of people with similar intentions. The earliest we can intervene to prevent terrorism the better.

"We also remind the public that there is currently a need to protect vulnerable or impressionable adults or children from this brand of Islamic extremism."

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