Man Convicted of Terrorism for Planning Attack on UK Military Base

Metropolitan Police officers are seen in London. EPA file photo
Metropolitan Police officers are seen in London. EPA file photo
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Man Convicted of Terrorism for Planning Attack on UK Military Base

Metropolitan Police officers are seen in London. EPA file photo
Metropolitan Police officers are seen in London. EPA file photo

A British man was convicted on Tuesday of planning an attack on a military base after being arrested with an explosive device in the grounds of a hospital, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said.

Mohammad Farooq was found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court, in northern England.

The 28-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to possession of an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, possession of an explosive substance in suspicious circumstances, possession of information likely to be useful to a terrorist, and other offences.

Farooq was arrested outside St. James's Hospital in Leeds, where he had previously worked as a student nurse, after showing a member of the public a gun and saying he "felt like killing everyone", the CPS said.

Police who attended the scene discovered in Farooq's bag a pressure cooker with wires attached, which bomb disposal experts found to be a viable explosive device.

The CPS said Farooq's electronic devices revealed evidence of his interest in radical ideology and research into RAF Menwith Hill, a nearby Royal Air Force base in North Yorkshire.

Farooq had pleaded not guilty to but was convicted of preparing a terrorist attack at RAF Menwith Hill. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said in a statement: "Farooq is an extremely dangerous individual who amassed a significant amount of practical and theoretical information that enabled him to produce 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."



Israeli Protesters Urging Gaza Deal Block Roads

 Israeli police work to extinguish a fire lit by anti-government protestors on a day of protests marking 9 months since the deadly October 7 attack, under the slogan "Israel comes to a standstill", near Shoresh, Israel, July 7, 2024. (Reuters)
Israeli police work to extinguish a fire lit by anti-government protestors on a day of protests marking 9 months since the deadly October 7 attack, under the slogan "Israel comes to a standstill", near Shoresh, Israel, July 7, 2024. (Reuters)
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Israeli Protesters Urging Gaza Deal Block Roads

 Israeli police work to extinguish a fire lit by anti-government protestors on a day of protests marking 9 months since the deadly October 7 attack, under the slogan "Israel comes to a standstill", near Shoresh, Israel, July 7, 2024. (Reuters)
Israeli police work to extinguish a fire lit by anti-government protestors on a day of protests marking 9 months since the deadly October 7 attack, under the slogan "Israel comes to a standstill", near Shoresh, Israel, July 7, 2024. (Reuters)

Protests aimed at pressuring the Israeli government to reach a hostage deal with Hamas began across the country on Sunday, with demonstrators blocking roads and picketing at the homes of government ministers.

Protests began at 6:29 am (0329 GMT), corresponding to the time of Hamas' Oct. 7 assault on Israel, according to Israeli media.

The demonstrators took to the streets, blocking rush hour traffic at major intersections across the country. They briefly set fire to tires on the main Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway before police cleared the way.

Efforts to secure a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza after nine months of war have gained momentum in recent days, with officials expressing optimism but saying gaps remain between the sides.

Gaza health authorities say more than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed in the offensive launched in response to Hamas' attack on southern Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Small groups with megaphones and banners also protested outside the houses of a number of ministers and coalition lawmakers.

"Total failure! Total failure!" a small crowd yelled outside the house of cabinet minister Ron Dermer, a member of Netanyahu's inner circle.

At Kibbutz Or Haner, near the border with Gaza, protesters hung a black balloon for every person killed in the attack and a yellow balloon for every hostage still held in Gaza.

Some Israelis disagree with the protesters' aims, and are pressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to spurn a deal and keep fighting until all the country's objectives have been met.