East Ham man was part of terror bomb plot
An East Ham man was part of an al-Qaeda terrorist gang whose leader plotted to bomb the Stock Exchange and targeted London Mayor Boris Johnson, a court has heard.
Mohammed Chowdhury, 21, is alleged to have led the extremists who scouted other potential targets including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye for a bombing spree in the run-up to Christmas 2010.
The gang, Woolwich Crown Court heard, included Shah Rahman, 29, of St Bernard’s Road, East Ham. He denies two counts of possession of a document or record containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing for an act of terrorism, They relate to copies of Inspire Magazine and 39 Ways to Serve and Participate in Jihad.
He, Chowdhury, from Poplar, and five other men from Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham and Cardiff admit engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism, contrary to section 5 (1) of the Terrorism Act 2006.
Their arrests followed months of covert police surveillance.
Prosecutors described Chowdhury as the “lynchpin” of the terrorist plot.
He was told he could face a jail term of 13 and a half years behind bars.
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As his right-hand man, Rahman was told he could expect a 12-year sentence.
Rahman and another are said to have been preparing to make a bomb and detonate it at the London Stock Exchange by posing as traders.
The gang are also understood to have discussed sending explosives to the other targets in the City’s Square Mile .
They collected hate-filled texts.
Three defendants from Stoke admitted travelling to attend an operational meetings, fund-raising for terrorist training and preparing to travel abroad with intent to commit acts of terrorism.
Chowdhury and Rahman are also understood to have built pipe bombs.
They visited London landmarks including the London Eye and Westminster Abbey.
They were also seen looking at Westminster Abbey, The Palace of Westminster, amongst other buildings.
All accused deny engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism and conspiracy to cause an explosion.
All are due to be sentenced this week.
