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| Man jailed over terrorism charges | Man jailed over terrorism charges |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A man in e-mail contact with so-called "lyrical terrorist" Samina Malik has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years after admitting three terror charges. | A man in e-mail contact with so-called "lyrical terrorist" Samina Malik has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years after admitting three terror charges. |
| Al Qaeda-trained Sohail Qureshi, 30, was arrested in October 2006 as he prepared to board a Pakistan flight at Heathrow to fight overseas. | Al Qaeda-trained Sohail Qureshi, 30, was arrested in October 2006 as he prepared to board a Pakistan flight at Heathrow to fight overseas. |
| The Old Bailey heard he planned to take military-style equipment on board. | The Old Bailey heard he planned to take military-style equipment on board. |
| The court heard Qureshi wrote in an email: "Pray that I kill many, brother. Revenge, revenge, revenge." | The court heard Qureshi wrote in an email: "Pray that I kill many, brother. Revenge, revenge, revenge." |
| After the case a senior investigating officer described Qureshi as "serious terrorist" who hoped to kill many people. | After the case a senior investigating officer described Qureshi as "serious terrorist" who hoped to kill many people. |
| Metal batons | Metal batons |
| In was revealed during the case that Qureshi, from east London, contacted Heathrow worker Malik to ask about the airport's security procedures. | In was revealed during the case that Qureshi, from east London, contacted Heathrow worker Malik to ask about the airport's security procedures. |
| Malik, a WH Smith employee, was given a suspended jail sentence in November 2007 after being convicted of storing a library of material for terrorism. | Malik, a WH Smith employee, was given a suspended jail sentence in November 2007 after being convicted of storing a library of material for terrorism. |
| Sohail Qureshi is a dedicated supporter of Islamist extremism Jonathan SharpProsecution href="/1/hi/uk/7177702.stm"> Terrorist and the shop girl In pictures: Qureshi case | |
| Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp told the court Qureshi had planned a "two to three-week operation" in either Pakistan, Afghanistan or Pakistan's Waziristan region after he landed in Islamabad. | Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp told the court Qureshi had planned a "two to three-week operation" in either Pakistan, Afghanistan or Pakistan's Waziristan region after he landed in Islamabad. |
| He was arrested at Heathrow with £9,000 in cash, a night-sight, two metal batons and a computer hard drive, Mr Sharp added. | He was arrested at Heathrow with £9,000 in cash, a night-sight, two metal batons and a computer hard drive, Mr Sharp added. |
| The court had also been told that Qureshi intended to take two sleeping bags, two rucksacks, medical supplies and CD-Roms on board the flight in October 2006. | The court had also been told that Qureshi intended to take two sleeping bags, two rucksacks, medical supplies and CD-Roms on board the flight in October 2006. |
| Mr Sharp added: "Sohail Qureshi is a dedicated supporter of Islamist extremism." | Mr Sharp added: "Sohail Qureshi is a dedicated supporter of Islamist extremism." |
| Qureshi - a dental technician, originally from Pakistan - was arrested on 18 October 2006 as he prepared to board a flight to Islamabad from Heathrow, Mr Sharp said. | Qureshi - a dental technician, originally from Pakistan - was arrested on 18 October 2006 as he prepared to board a flight to Islamabad from Heathrow, Mr Sharp said. |
| Samina Malik: First woman convicted under Terrorism Act | Samina Malik: First woman convicted under Terrorism Act |
| He had been preparing with a jihadist group, the prosecution added. | He had been preparing with a jihadist group, the prosecution added. |
| In an e-mail to Malik, Qureshi asked: "What's the system like at work? Is the checking still very harsh or have things calmed down a bit?" | In an e-mail to Malik, Qureshi asked: "What's the system like at work? Is the checking still very harsh or have things calmed down a bit?" |
| He had been followed airside at Heathrow by counter-terrorism officers who found him carrying the cash - £1,150 in a wallet and £7,590 in six envelopes. | He had been followed airside at Heathrow by counter-terrorism officers who found him carrying the cash - £1,150 in a wallet and £7,590 in six envelopes. |
| Qureshi admitted preparing for terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 - making him the first person to be convicted of new laws against planning terrorism. | Qureshi admitted preparing for terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 - making him the first person to be convicted of new laws against planning terrorism. |
| He also pleaded guilty to possessing articles for terrorist purposes and articles likely to be useful to a terrorist. | He also pleaded guilty to possessing articles for terrorist purposes and articles likely to be useful to a terrorist. |
| Judge Brian Barker, the Common Serjeant of London, told Qureshi these were "grave charges". | Judge Brian Barker, the Common Serjeant of London, told Qureshi these were "grave charges". |
| He added: "You were ready for terrorist operations overseas but there is no specific indication of what they are or where they might be." | He added: "You were ready for terrorist operations overseas but there is no specific indication of what they are or where they might be." |
| Afterwards the police officer in charge of counter-terrorism in the UK, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke told the BBC: "Qureshi was a serious terrorist. | Afterwards the police officer in charge of counter-terrorism in the UK, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke told the BBC: "Qureshi was a serious terrorist. |
| "He was trained years ago by al Qaeda; he returned to this country; he had cover stories; he used encrypted computers and the like - he knew exactly what he was doing and in his own words his intention was to go on jihad and he hoped to kill many. That's what he said." | "He was trained years ago by al Qaeda; he returned to this country; he had cover stories; he used encrypted computers and the like - he knew exactly what he was doing and in his own words his intention was to go on jihad and he hoped to kill many. That's what he said." |
| DAC Clarke said this was the 23rd such case over the last year. | DAC Clarke said this was the 23rd such case over the last year. |
| He added: "This is the first time that the new offence of preparing to commit an act of terrorism has passed through the courts. | |
| "We have seen how effective that can be in filling what was a gap in the law." | "We have seen how effective that can be in filling what was a gap in the law." |