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| Top extremist recruiter is jailed | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A man convicted as a major recruiter for Islamist extremism in the UK has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years. | A man convicted as a major recruiter for Islamist extremism in the UK has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years. |
| Mohammed Hamid, 50, of east London, was found guilty of training men in secret camps in the Lake District and New Forest to prepare them to fight abroad. | Mohammed Hamid, 50, of east London, was found guilty of training men in secret camps in the Lake District and New Forest to prepare them to fight abroad. |
| Among those to have passed through Hamid's camps were the four failed suicide bombers of 21 July 2005. | Among those to have passed through Hamid's camps were the four failed suicide bombers of 21 July 2005. |
| Hamid's accomplice Atilla Ahmet was jailed for six years and 11 months at the end of the landmark prosecution. | Hamid's accomplice Atilla Ahmet was jailed for six years and 11 months at the end of the landmark prosecution. |
| HAMID'S CO-ACCUSED Clockwise from top-left: Atilla Ahmet: Soliciting to murder Kibley Da Costa: Attending terrorism training, providing training, holding terrorist articles. Kader Ahmed, 20: Attending two training camps. Mohammed Al-Figari, 44: Attending camps and holding terrorist articles. | HAMID'S CO-ACCUSED Clockwise from top-left: Atilla Ahmet: Soliciting to murder Kibley Da Costa: Attending terrorism training, providing training, holding terrorist articles. Kader Ahmed, 20: Attending two training camps. Mohammed Al-Figari, 44: Attending camps and holding terrorist articles. |
| Not pictured: Hassan MutegombwaMohammed KyriacouYassin Mutegombwa Convictions in full | Not pictured: Hassan MutegombwaMohammed KyriacouYassin Mutegombwa Convictions in full |
| Police say Hamid played a crucial role in grooming young men for terrorism and possible training overseas. | Police say Hamid played a crucial role in grooming young men for terrorism and possible training overseas. |
| The trial judge, Mr Justice Pitchers, told him: "Mohammed Hamid, you are, in my judgment, dangerous. | |
| "You used your charm and knowledge of the Koran to influence others to terrorism." | |
| Hamid's training came in the form of camping trips around the UK and late night talks in the living room of his home. | Hamid's training came in the form of camping trips around the UK and late night talks in the living room of his home. |
| Prosecutors said he sought to groom impressionable young men, a process that had only intensified after the July 2005 suicide bombings. | Prosecutors said he sought to groom impressionable young men, a process that had only intensified after the July 2005 suicide bombings. |
| Hamid was found guilty of three counts of soliciting to murder and three counts of providing terrorism training. | Hamid was found guilty of three counts of soliciting to murder and three counts of providing terrorism training. |
| Ahmet, the former right-hand-man of jailed preacher Abu Hamza, had pleaded guilty to three counts of soliciting to murder relating to hate speeches. | Ahmet, the former right-hand-man of jailed preacher Abu Hamza, had pleaded guilty to three counts of soliciting to murder relating to hate speeches. |
| Seven other men have been convicted in connection with his camps in a series of linked trials that were under a partial reporting black-out. | Seven other men have been convicted in connection with his camps in a series of linked trials that were under a partial reporting black-out. |
| In mitigation, Joel Bennathan QC, told the court that while Hamid had been found guilty, the jury had cleared him of some charges - and that any links between him and actual acts of terrorism were tenuous. | |
| MOHAMMED HAMID Born 1957, Tanzania, to Indian family Grew up Batley, Yorkshire Moved to London aged 12 Various manual jobsSent to borstal Jailed for robbery Two marriages, five children Reformed crack addict Found religion in 1990s The radicaliser and the bombers | MOHAMMED HAMID Born 1957, Tanzania, to Indian family Grew up Batley, Yorkshire Moved to London aged 12 Various manual jobsSent to borstal Jailed for robbery Two marriages, five children Reformed crack addict Found religion in 1990s The radicaliser and the bombers |
| While Hamid knew the men behind the 21/7 London attacks, he had not been the "intellectual inspiration". | While Hamid knew the men behind the 21/7 London attacks, he had not been the "intellectual inspiration". |
| Henry Blaxland QC, for Ahmet, said his client had become a "changed man" during his time awaiting sentencing. Ahmet, who had shaved off his long Islamic beard, had written a long letter to the judge demonstrating what Mr Blaxland said was "genuine contrition". | |
| Appearing as a character witness, Musa Ahmet said his brother had "got a buzz" from his notorious reputation among journalists for incendiary speeches - but in reality he had limited knowledge of Islam. | Appearing as a character witness, Musa Ahmet said his brother had "got a buzz" from his notorious reputation among journalists for incendiary speeches - but in reality he had limited knowledge of Islam. |