A convicted terrorist who meticulously planned to blow up a passenger jet in a 9/11-style attack on Heathrow Airport has been released from prison after serving less than half his sentence, the Daily Mail can reveal.
Dawood Safiyya Shaikh, a 35-year-old from west London, was freed from HMP Belmarsh last month despite being handed a 16-year term in 2017 for his role in an Al-Qaeda inspired plot to destroy an airliner. The early release has ignited fury among security experts and raised serious questions about the UK's counter-terrorism strategy.
The Chilling Plot to Unleash Carnage
Shaikh, a former shopkeeper, was the ringleader of a sophisticated terror cell. His plan involved smuggling a homemade bomb aboard a commercial flight departing from Heathrow, one of the world's busiest aviation hubs. The intended method mirrored the devastating 2001 attacks on the United States.
Court documents revealed he had researched how to conceal explosives in a hollowed-out perfume bottle or a soft drink can. His target was a plane travelling to the US or Canada, with the aim of causing mass casualties and widespread terror.
A Web of Extremism and Deceit
Under the guise of a legitimate business, Shaikh's 'Islamic Goods' stall in Uxbridge became a front for his extremist activities. He used the business to radicalise others and acquire materials for his plot. The court heard how he had pledged allegiance to a senior Al-Qaeda commander and was in direct communication with operatives in Syria.
His arrest in 2016 came after a major covert operation by the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, likely preventing a catastrophic loss of life.
Outrage Over Early Release
His premature release after serving just seven years has been met with condemnation. Security sources and politicians have labelled the decision a 'dangerous miscalculation' and a 'betrayal' of public safety.
"Releasing an individual with such a dangerous ideology back into the community, especially so early, poses an unacceptable risk," said a former senior counter-terrorism officer. "The system appears to have prioritised prison space over national security."
The Ministry of Justice maintains that all terror offenders are subject to strict licence conditions and lifelong monitoring upon release. However, critics argue the safeguards are insufficient for someone of Shaikh's conviction and ideological commitment.
The case has intensified the debate around the sentencing and management of high-risk terrorist offenders in the UK, leaving the public to wonder if true redemption is possible for those who plot mass murder.
