Mohammed Hasseen, a terrorist who plotted to bomb an English Defence League (EDL) rally in 2012, has been deemed fit for release after a High Court judge dismissed a last-ditch appeal by the Justice Secretary. Hasseen was part of a group of six Muslim men who planned to set off homemade bombs, shoot, and stab far-right EDL marchers. The plot failed only because the gang arrived at the demonstration after it had already finished.
Background of the plot
In 2013, Hasseen, then 24, was sentenced to 23 years and nine months in prison after admitting terror offences. The gang, based in Birmingham, amassed a huge haul of ideological material before their bungled attack on the EDL meeting in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, on June 30, 2012. They had around 18,000 pieces of Islamic extremist material on their computers and phones.
Sentencing judge Nicholas Hilliard QC said the men were fuelled by a torrent of graphic imagery and had "immersed themselves" in murderous videos and speeches. They demonstrated a "close and committed interest" in extreme Islamist ideology with an emphasis on "jihad and violent retribution." The judge added that it was "inconceivable" that their failure to carry out the attack would have stopped them from wanting to commit atrocities at a later date.
Parole Board decision and appeal
Despite the severity of the offences, the Parole Board ruled Hasseen was fit for release. Justice Secretary David Lammy MP appealed the decision, arguing it was "irrational and the hearing was procedurally unfair," and that the board had failed to consider "reprehensible" comments Hasseen had made to a prison officer. However, Sir John Saunders dismissed the application.
Sir Saunders acknowledged that "the offences committed by [Hasseen] were very serious and could have had fatal consequences," and that if "he were released and committed another similar offence the consequence could be mass fatalities." But he added: "I am satisfied that the panel and the witnesses who spoke in support of release had this well in mind in the hearing."
Details of the failed attack
All of the gang except Hasseen travelled to Dewsbury to bomb the demo. The EDL leader Tommy Robinson was due to speak at the event but pulled out at the last minute. The rally finished slightly earlier than planned, and the 750 EDL marchers had gone home by the time the terror gang arrived with an arsenal of weapons including shotguns, swords, knives, a nail bomb containing 458 pieces of shrapnel, and a partially-assembled pipe bomb.
Instead of carrying out the attack, the gang went for fish and chips before heading back to Birmingham in two cars on the M1. Police had no knowledge of the terror plot at that stage, but one of the cars carrying Omar Khan and Jewel Uddin was pulled over by an officer in a routine stop on the motorway. The Renault Laguna was seized because it was not insured, and Khan and Uddin were taken to a train station and released. It was only two days later that a horrified worker at a car pound discovered a bag in the boot containing the weapons.
Impact and reaction
The judge said the men wanted to spark a "spiral of tit-for-tat violence." As they were sentenced at the Old Bailey, Tommy Robinson shouted "God save the Queen" from the public gallery. Hasseen's release has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that he remains a danger to the public.
