Muslim convert 'held secret terrorist discussions on targeting UK civilians'

 
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24 April 2013
WEST END FINAL

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A Muslim convert held secret terrorist discussions on targeting British civilians, the Old Bailey heard today.

Richard Dart and fellow terror cell member Imran Mahmood talked about whether the town of Wootton Bassett — where the bodies of many soldiers killed in Afghanistan have been repatriated — should be hit as part of the “real war”.

Dart, the son of teachers from Dorset, is a former BBC security guard. The court was told how he stated that killing civilians “justifies the war to them” — referring to the war he says the West is waging on Islam. He also referred to the 7/7 and 9/11 atrocities, and a suicide attack that killed seven CIA agents in Afghanistan in 2009.

Dart, 30, of Ealing; Mahmood, 22, of Northolt; and Jahangir Alom, 26, of Stratford, were all being sentenced today after they admitted engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism. Alom was an ex-Territorial Army soldier and former Met police community support officer. He had served in 7th Battalion, The Rifles and even volunteered for peacekeeping duties in Afghanistan before being discharged on medical grounds.

Mahmood had contacts in the Pakistan Taliban and al Qaeda and received terror training in Pakistan. The three-strong UK cell also had a British contact in Pakistan called Mohammed Tariq Nasar, who helped Dart try to obtain training and plan attacks in Britain.

Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC told the court the group were “entirely committed to acts of terrorism”. Although there was “no evidence that any planning for an identifiable target had actually been carried out” analysis of Dart’s computers showed their thinking.

Using their anti-surveillance training, Dart and Mahmood communicated in “silent conversations” — typing their discussions then deleting them to avoid being overheard. But forensic scientists were able to retrieve their messages. Mahmood refers to the real war being in Britain and not Pakistan or Afghanistan. He says the UK is “dar-ul harb” — the Arabic term for “theatre of war”, where Sharia law is not in force so an attack is justified.

Mahmood suggests Wootton Bassett as a potential target and says the attack should not be just against the military because “their all combatanat” (sic).

Dart appears to differentiate between civilians and the military, pointing out “you mean soldiers not civvies because stuff like 7/7 just justifies the war to them even more which aint helping the ummah [Muslim community].”

Dart planned to fly out to Pakistan with Alom in November 2011 but was halted by the authorities at Heathrow, the court heard.

Mr Laidlaw said they had aimed to join up with the Pakistan Taliban, which controlled the Swat valley on the border with Afghanistan at the time, and was “by far the most active terrorist organisation in the region”.

The hearing continues.

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