Former Taliban fighter Munir Farooqi, who ran a recruiting agency from a market stall in Longsight, Manchester, has died while serving a prison sentence. He was 69 years old.
Farooqi was at the centre of a plot to radicalise vulnerable young men to fight against British troops in Afghanistan, a court heard. He was caught after attempting to recruit undercover police officers.
Sentenced to Life in 2011
In September 2011, a judge at Manchester Crown Court gave him four life sentences. He was told he must serve a minimum of nine years before being considered for parole. Farooqi was convicted of preparing for acts of terrorism, three counts of soliciting to murder and one count of dissemination of terrorist publications, following a four-month trial.
His death in prison was confirmed by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), which investigates all deaths in custody. The body said he died at HMP Frankland, in County Durham, on September 27.
Investigation Underway
An investigation into his death is now underway, the PPO said. No further details have been released, other than his date of birth. The investigation is said to be in progress.
Farooqi went on to lose an appeal against his conviction. His appeal was dismissed by three Court of Appeal judges sitting in London in September 2013.
Undercover Operation
Farooqi, a Pakistani-born British citizen from Longsight, ran an Islamic book stall on Longsight market and offered young men extremist books and DVDs. He was approached at the market by two separate undercover police officers, who claimed to be interested in Islam. They spent months undercover and wore secret bugging devices.
Farooqi had joined the Taliban as an active terrorist after being inspired by the Allied invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 terror attacks. He was captured and jailed in November 2001, and later released by the authorities in Pakistan. Farooqi returned to Manchester and turned his family home into a production centre for propaganda.
Recommending Farooqi serve a minimum nine years behind bars following a trial, judge Mr Justice Richard Henriques told him: "You are a dangerous extremist who believes murdering British and American troops is an obligation. You have the necessary skills to persuade others to that ideology. Great care must be taken before considering you for release if indeed you are ever released."
