Terrorist's Parole Release Blocked, Faces New Hearing After Political Backlash
A convicted terrorist who plotted to blow up a British army base and was due to be released from prison will now face a new parole hearing after the case was urgently reviewed. Zahid Iqbal, a key member of a terrorist gang, had been given clearance for release earlier this year, but swift political intervention has forced a reconsideration of that decision.
Details of the Terrorist Plot
Zahid Iqbal was part of a terrorist cell that planned an attack at a Territorial Army centre in Luton. The group intended to use a remote-controlled toy car to carry a homemade bomb to the location. The co-leader of the gang planned to construct the explosive device based on instructions from an Al Qaeda manual titled 'Make a bomb in the kitchen of your mom - by the Al Qaeda chef'. This chilling plot highlighted the group's determination to carry out a devastating act of terrorism on UK soil.
Sentencing and Initial Parole Decision
Iqbal and his co-conspirators were jailed in 2013 after admitting one count of engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism. The 43-year-old received a 16-year prison sentence for his central role in the plot. Earlier this year, the parole board controversially approved Iqbal's release, despite two experts who had monitored his progress in prison urging the panel to keep him incarcerated. The decision sparked immediate outrage across the political spectrum.
Political Intervention and Backlash
The shadow Home Secretary wrote to Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy to express grave concerns about Iqbal's imminent release. The shadow minister called the parole decision 'disgraceful' and described Iqbal as a 'dangerous lunatic'. In response, Mr Lammy urged the Parole Board to reconsider what he termed a 'legally irrational' decision to release the terrorist three years early. Lammy formally submitted an application requesting the board to review the case, citing public safety concerns.
Fresh Parole Hearing Granted
Now, reconsideration has been granted, and Iqbal will face a fresh parole review where a new panel of experts will thoroughly assess the case. The panel is likely to examine all relevant paperwork again and evaluate his behaviour in prison along with other critical factors. The review will probably hear testimony from individuals who have had contact with Iqbal during his incarceration, as well as evidence from specialists and officials who have monitored him in jail.
Previous Release and Recall
Iqbal was initially released on November 2, 2021, under the direction of the Parole Board, but was recalled to prison in 2023 after numerous concerns were raised about his conduct and potential risk to the public. This recall demonstrated ongoing worries about his dangerousness despite the earlier parole decision.
Co-Conspirators' Status
In 2023, three other members of the terror gang were quietly released from jail. Umar Arshad, previously jailed for six years and nine months, Syed Farhan Hussain, who received five years and three months, and Mohammed Sharfaraz Ahmed, who was handed an 11-year sentence, have all completed their prison terms. The four men had all admitted one count of engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism between January 1, 2011, and April 25, 2012, during a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court in March 2013.
Court Proceedings and Judicial Warnings
During the original trial, tapes of the men discussing bomb-making were played in court, with the four defendants reportedly sitting smiling and giggling in the dock. Sentencing the men in April 2013, Mr Justice Wilkie QC stated that Iqbal and Ahmed, then 25, posed a continuing risk to the public. Their extended sentences of 11 years in jail plus an additional five years on licence reflected their key roles in the plot, meaning they could be recalled to prison anytime during their five years on licence.
The judge emphasized: 'In each of their cases, their persistent commitment to terrorist activity, in a number of different ways, over a significant period of time and, in each case, their willingness to take practical steps to obtain terrorist training abroad, marks them out as particularly dangerous.' He added that their continued access to extremist material even after their houses had been searched demonstrated a mindset that warranted extended sentences to protect the public.
