Mohammad Farooq, was ‘talked down’ from detonating a ‘viable’ pressure cooker bomb, twice as powerful as the one used in the Boston Marathon attack of 2013
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Watch police arrest ‘lone wolf’ terrorist Mohammad Farooq
A ‘lone wolf’ terrorist whose plot to bomb a hospital was foiled by a patient has been found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism.
Mohammad Farooq, 28, planned to ‘kill as many nurses as possible’ when he targeted St James’s Hospital last year. He was ‘talked down’ from detonating a ‘viable’ pressure cooker bomb, twice as powerful as the one used in the Boston Marathon attack of 2013, by patient Nathan Newby.
He happened to be having a cigarette outside in the early hours of Jan 20, 2023, when he noticed Farook, engaged him in conversation, and called police. Farooq’s first target was RAF Menwith Hill, a spy base near Harrogate which is operated by US and UK staff. It had been designated as a target by IS. He then switched to the “softer and less well-protected target” of St James’s Hospital.
He was arrested outside the hospital with 10 kilograms of low explosive, two knives, black tape and a blank firing, imitation firearm. He had immersed himself in an “extremist Islamic ideology” and went to the hospital to “seek his own martyrdom” through a “murderous terrorist attack”.
Sheffield Crown Court heard that he had a grievance against several of his former colleagues at the hospital and had been conducting a poison pen campaign against them. Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC said Farooq’s plan was to detonate the bomb, then kill as many people as possible with knives before using an imitation firearm to incite police to shoot him dead.
Prior to trial, he had admitted possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, firearms offences, and the possession of terrorist material. Nathan first noticed that he was agitated and “very open about his plans to detonate a bomb at the hospital”. He was able to calm Farooq before calling 999. Mr Sandiford said “two pieces of good fortune intervened” to stop the attack.
A bomb threat he sent by Farooq to an off-duty nurse was not seen for almost an hour. His plan was for a full-scale evacuation so he could bomb patients in the car park but that did not happen.
Farooq returned with a new plan to wait in a hospital cafe to detonate his device after a shift change. Then “luck intervened again” because Nathan persuaded him to hand over his mobile phone, and he used it to dial 999.
Mr Sandiford added: “He talked to him instead of walking away. “That simple act of kindness almost certainly saved many lives.” Farooq told detectives that Mr Newby succeeded in ‘talking him down’.”
Counter Terrorism Policing North East found that he had radicalised himself online. He was self-motivated and “heavily inspired by Daesh propaganda”. Det Supt Paul Greenwood, Head of Investigations, told how Farooq was intent to act on his beliefs and carry out an attack.
“He’d researched and prepared for his actions, building an improvised explosive device and prioritising his targets,” he added. “He was primarily motivated by a Daesh-inspired ideology, but also by his own, deep-seated grievances. It was these extreme, personal grievances which ultimately led him to St James’s in January last year.
“We are sincerely grateful for the actions of Nathan Newby that morning, whose bravery and willingness to calm Farooq prevented him from fully realising his plans. Had he not intervened the outcome could have been devastating.”
He added: “We’d also like to acknowledge the strength and resilience of staff at St James’s Hospital, who acted swiftly to the potential threat to ensure the safety of their patients and staff, while maintaining business as usual throughout the incident.
“The commitment of these people to protecting others forever changed the course of events that day. I hope they are immensely proud of their actions and are reassured by the verdict.”
Professor Phil Wood, Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals, added: “This was an extremely difficult time for staff and patients, and I am immensely proud of the calm and professional way in which they responded on the day to keep everyone safe.
“I would like to thank the police for their support during the incident and throughout the investigation to get us to this point and I am extremely grateful to Nathan Newby for his courage and initiative that morning”.
Farooq’s mobile phone and car showed he made at least two visits to the area of Menwith Hill in the 10 days before his arrest. Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, described him as ‘an extremely dangerous individual’ who had produced a viable explosive device.
“He then took that homemade explosive device to a hospital where he worked with the intention to cause serious harm. Examination of his electronic devices revealed a hatred towards his colleagues at work and those he considered non-believers.
“It is clear from his internet searches that he was also conducting extensive research of RAF Menwith Hill, with a view to launching a potential attack. The extremist views he holds are a threat to our society, and I am pleased the jury found him guilty of his crimes.”
Farooq, of Leeds, will be sentenced for all offences on a future date, yet to be fixed.
