A terrorist who plotted an al-Qaeda-inspired bomb attack on a Territorial Army centre in Luton is to be freed from prison after the Parole Board approved his release.
Zahid Iqbal, now aged 39, was jailed for 16 years in 2013 after pleading guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism. He and co-conspirator Mohammed Sharfaraz Ahmed planned to send a remote-controlled toy car carrying a homemade bomb under the gates of the TA centre on Marsh Road. Sentencing judge Mr Justice Wilkie imposed a minimum term of 11 years and three months.
The Parole Board ruled at the end of January that Iqbal should be released, three years earlier than his maximum sentence. A Parole Board spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Zahid Iqbal following an oral hearing. Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.'
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has written to Justice Secretary David Lammy urging him to veto the decision. 'We all know the threat posed by Islamist extremism in this country,' Mr Philp said. 'That is why the Government must veto the decision to release Zahid Iqbal and keep him behind bars.'
The Parole Board emphasised that its reviews are thorough, examining evidence including details of the original crime, behaviour change, and victim impact statements. 'Protecting the public is our number one priority,' the spokesperson added.
