UK student nurse charged with planning an attack on an air force base and taking the bomb to a maternity ward where he worked
Friday, January 27th saw a British court charge a student nurse with plotting to attack an air force base and bringing a bomb to a hospital maternity section where he was working.
Mohammad Farooq (27), was arrested outside St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds, in northern England. He was carrying a “viable” pressure cooker bomb that contained 13.7 kg (30 pounds) of a homemade, low-explosive mix.
Prosecutors claim Farooq conducted “hostile reconnaissance” on an English Royal Air Force base earlier in the month, after being encouraged to attack it online.
He faces one charge of preparing an act of terrorism in connection with the air base plan, which prosecutors allege was motivated by Islamic extremism.
Farooq is also charged with possessing an explosive substance and possessing an imitation firearm over the hospital incident, which prosecutors say was motivated by a grudge against another staff member.
Farooq appeared by video link at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday January 27, and was not asked to enter pleas. He was ordered detained until his next court hearing on February 3 at London’s Central Criminal Court.
