A “lone-wolf terrorist” who plotted to blow up a hospital and a RAF base near Harrogate had been experimenting with firework gunpowder and fertiliser inside his garage, a jury was told.
Mohammad Farooq, 28, a clinical support worker, planned to carry out an Islamist terror attack with a homemade bomb at RAF Menwith Hill and St James’s Hospital in Leeds but was stopped in his tracks by hero patient Nathan Newby, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
A subsequent police search of Farooq’s home in Leeds revealed a plethora of items which the prosecution claims were linked to his alleged plot to blow up the US spy and radar base near Harrogate and the hospital where he worked.
Among the items were a gun holster, a meat cleaver, a toiletries bag containing blank-firing ammunition and 250g of saltpetre, or Potassium Nitrate, which could be used as a rocket propellant or gunpowder.
Farooq, who denies plotting a terrorist attack at the two sites, admitted that “on a few occasions” he had taken the gun holster to work with him at the hospital.
In a transcript of one of his police interviews read out in court yesterday, he was asked why there appeared to be “screws and things” in the firework powder, to which he replied: “It was for the garage really.”
He said he had stripped the fireworks and placed the powder into plastic tubs which he then “poured into the bomb”.
He claimed he kept the meat cleaver under his bed to “make me feel more safe (sic), so I slept more peacefully” because he was “paranoid” and having nightmares.
When asked what the 250g of Potassium Nitrate were doing at his home, Farooq claimed it was used as a fertiliser for a vegetable plot behind his garage as it was “supposed to be good for the soil”, and for “curing meat”.
Read more:
- ‘Lone wolf terrorist’ plotted to blow up RAF Menwith Hill, trial hears
- Harrogate air base a ‘designated Islamic State target’, terrorism trial hears
Farooq admitted he had been searching for “bomb manuals” on internet forums run by extremist Jihadi groups such as Al Qaeda but had not been looking for advice on how to carry out a terrorist attack.
Police seized documents such as ‘Safety and Security Guidelines for Lone Wolf Mujahideen and Small Cells” that he had downloaded from such forums.
Other documents downloaded by Farooq included the Anarchist Cookbook and the Improvised Munition Handbook 1969 Department of the Army, which, despite chapters on how to manufacture explosives, grenades, ammunition, mortars, incendiary devices and detonators, Farooq claimed “didn’t suit me at all”.
When asked if he had “any desire to be part of Al Qaeda” and carry out “Lone Wolf” attacks, he replied: “No, definitely not.”
He said he was simply looking for a manual “to make a realistic-looking bomb” and wasn’t (on the Jihadi forums) to look at anything extremist.”
He claimed he was simply trying to “get back” at his colleagues, specifically nurses, at the hospital against whom he had a grudge because he felt he had been “humiliated” by them, but “not to hurt them in any way, it was just to scare them”.
Other documents downloaded by Farooq included ‘How to make Semtex and other explosives, IEDs’, but he claimed that “wasn’t what I wanted”.
It’s alleged that Farooq’s initial plan was to target the US spy base near Harrogate, but he also planned to blow up part of the hospital and go on a terrorist spree with a firearm, a homemade bomb and a kitchen knife, with the aim of “killing as many people as possible”.
Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC added:
“By January 2023, we say that the defendant had a become self-radicalised lone-wolf terrorist who had made preparations to commit a murderous terrorist attack in Yorkshire.”
At about 5am on January 20, Farooq was arrested outside the Gledhow Wing of St James’s Hospital.
Mr Sandiford said:
“The defendant was in possession of a viable improvised explosive device assembled from a pressure cooker and containing 9.9 kilos of low explosive.
“He had with him…two knives, black tape and a blank-firing imitation firearm. The crown’s case is that he had gone to that hospital to commit a terrorist attack (and) seek his own martyrdom by detonating the explosive device and using bladed weapons to kill as many people as possible.”
Farooq sent a bomb threat from inside his car in the hospital car park, but it only reached an off-duty nurse who didn’t see it until over an hour later. He had intended to cause an evacuation while he waited outside to detonate the bomb and then “attack any survivors with the bladed weapons”.
However, because the bomb threat wasn’t seen for over an hour, the evacuation didn’t initially occur, and when it eventually did it was only a “part-evacuation”, with people being moved within the hospital, not to the car park where Farooq had been waiting.
Mr Sandiford said:
“When the evacuation happened, the defendant drove away.”
He returned to St James’s a short time later with a new plan of attack which was to carry the weapons including the homemade bomb into Costa Coffee inside the hospital wing, wait for a change of shift so that it would be full of nurses, “then detonate it, killing as many of them as possible”.
However, “luck intervened again” when patient Mr Newby, who was having a cigarette outside the entrance, bumped into Farooq and “noticed that something appeared to be amiss with the defendant”.
He persuaded Farooq to follow him away from the main hospital buildings to a bench where he “succeeded in talking him down” and called police, who turned up to arrest the alleged would-be terrorist.
Menwith Hill was ‘Plan A’
Using cell-site technology, police discovered that Farooq had made at least two visits to RAF Menwith Hill between January 10 and the day of his arrest on January 20. He had chosen the US spy base “because it was believed that the base had had been used to co-ordinate drone strikes against terrorists in Syria and Iraq”.
The RAF base had been his “Plan A” of attack, but when this didn’t come off, Farooq targeted the hospital in Leeds because it was seen as a “softer” target.
Farooq later admitted that he had the bomb with him when he went to the air base but claimed he had just gone there “for a drive”.
He had also “obtained instructions for the preparation and manufacture…of five deadly toxins as nerve agents”, namely Ricin, Sarin, VX, Tabun and Tetrodoxin.
Farooq, of Hetton Road, Roundhay, has already admitted possessing an explosive substance in suspicious circumstances, possessing an improvised explosive device and pyrotechnic fuses.
He has also pleaded guilty to possessing a document likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism and having an imitation firearm with criminal intent, namely a Gediz 9mm PAK semi-automatic pistol, and possession of the same imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
The trial continues.
Daughter of man, 90, killed on A61 calls for ‘horrendous’ road to be made saferThe daughter of a 90-year-old man who was killed when he was knocked down by a car is calling for better safety measures to be urgently introduced on the stretch of the A61 Ripon Road where he was hit.
Lucjan Wilk had just got off the number 36 bus when he was struck by a Ford Fiesta travelling towards Killinghall on Monday night (November 6). He sustained multiple serious injuries and died the following evening in Leeds General Infirmary.
Polish-born Mr Wilk lived with his daughter, Paulina, and her husband in a house near the bus-stop.
She told the Stray Ferret:
“This road is just horrendous. People come flying down that hill – I don’t think anyone does less than 50mph, and many go a lot faster than that.
“There’s also no lighting between Harrogate and Killinghall, and not even any on Knox Mill Lane. It’s so dangerous.
“I don’t think they put the bus-stop in the right place at all.”
Paulina is now calling on North Yorkshire Council to reduce the speed limit to 30mph between Harrogate and Killinghall, to install proper lighting, and to introduce other traffic-calming measures, such as speed-indicator display signs. She said:
“It’s a big problem, and I’ve asked the council for more lighting here before, but nobody’s listening. It’s like we don’t exist.”
Mr Wilk, who came to England with his family in 1978, had lived with Paulina and her husband ever since his wife moved into a care home three months ago.
He had taken the bus into Harrogate every day since then to visit his wife, to whom friends say he was devoted.
Paulina can see the spot where her father was struck from her kitchen window. She said:
“I have to pass it every day on my way into town, too – there’s no escape.
“My dad was a wonderful person, and unbelievably fit for 90 years old. It’s so unfair – he didn’t deserve to die like that.”
In tragic twist of irony, Paulina used to live on Leeds Road, where she was very concerned about speeding cars “using it as a racetrack”.
She moved to her current address because she thought it would be quieter. She said:
“I complained to the council about the speeding there, and they contacted me and sympathised, but that was the end of it. A police officer even told me that sometimes it takes a tragedy, like someone’s death, to make them do something. Well, that tragedy has happened now, so I hope something will be done.”
Read more:
- Bus passenger death prompts visibility concerns on ‘dark’ Harrogate road
- Man in 90s dies after Harrogate collision
- Speed limit could be reduced on A61 Harrogate to Ripon Road
Business Breakfast: New outdoor shop opens in Ripon
Are you already thinking of how to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not choose the Harrogate Gift Card?
The Harrogate Gift Card can be spent in over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre including retail, hospitality and leisure, whilst keeping the spend locked into the local economy.
Complete a corporate bulk order of over £250 and receive 15% discount from November 1 to 15 with the code ‘HGT15’.
A Trespass and Nevisport store is the latest addition to Ripon‘s high street.
The outdoor clothing, footwear and accessories specialist, which sells brands including The North Face, Rab and Berghaus, opened its doors on Saturday morning in a prime retail location at Market Place East.
The premises were previously occupied for many years by Barclays Bank, whose Ripon branch closed in August 2022.
The Trespass brand was created in 1984 by long-established Glasgow firm Jacobs & Turner Ltd, which still owns it. The first Trespass store in mainland Europe opened in the Netherlands in 2014 and others have since opened in Poland, France, Germany and Austria.
Nevisport was founded near Ben Nevis in Scotland in 1970 and was acquired by Jacobs & Turner Ltd in 2007.
New Christmas market at Ripley
Real Markets, which runs markets across Yorkshire, has announced a new Christmas market at Ripley Castle.
Real Markets at Ripley Castle on Sunday, December 10 will feature a “special visitor from the North Pole” and carols from local schoolchildren. Visitors will also have free access to Ripley Castle’s grounds and gardens on market day.
Lucy Allen, director of Real Markets, said:
“We hope our special Christmas market brings a little magic in this fairytale setting. We’re thrilled that our specially curated local market will continue to be in the castle grounds once a month, every month next year too. It offers free access to Ripley castle’s grounds and gardens, so a fantastic day out for all ages.”
The monthly market at Ripley Castle. Photo: Real Markets.
Real Markets runs a number of long-standing Yorkshire markets, including monthly markets and farmers’ markets in Ilkley, Grassington, Otley and Harrogate, as well as at Ripley Castle on the last Sunday of each month excluding January. Its ethos is to support local, small, specialist and independent businesses to benefit the local community and help local producers thrive.
The Real Markets Christmas market at Ripley Castle will take place from 10am to 3pm on Sunday 10 December. Admission is free.
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- Business Breakfast: Growth Hub hires Harrogate district business advisers
Woman in 70s seriously injured after Harrogate collision
A woman in her 70s has been seriously injured after a collision in Harrogate.
North Yorkshire Police has appealed for information and dash cam footage of the incident which happened on North Park Road.
The woman, who was a pedestrian, was treated by paramedics and has been taken to hospital after being struck by a grey BMW 3-Series.
Police have also appealed for CCTV footage showing the grey BMW 3-Series in the moments before the collision, which was reported just before 4.10pm today.
A large section of North Park Road is currently closed to allow police to investigate.
Road closures are at junctions with Queen’s Parade, York Place, Harcourt Drive and other adjoining roads.
Officers said the roads are likely to stay closed for some time and police are advising motorists to use alternative routes.
A North Yorkshire Police statement said:
“Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has footage of the collision or the moments leading up to it, should email Traffic Sergeant Jon Moss at Jon.Moss@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Jon Moss.
“Please quote reference NYP13112023-0349 when sharing information.”
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Harrogate’s religious leaders issue plea for respect
Religious leaders in Harrogate have issued a plea for tolerance, calm and respect as the conflict in the Middle East continues.
Hasan Muhammad, the imam of the Harrogate mosque, Bernard Cohen, the president of the Harrogate synagogue, and Reverend Alan Garrow, the vicar of St Peter’s Church, met local MP Andrew Jones this morning to discuss the ongoing situation and the positions of Muslims and Jews in Harrogate and Knaresborough and nationwide.
Mr Muhammad, who is the imam of the Harrogate Islamic Association, said:
“It is good to stand together with Mr Cohen calling for peace and understanding between faiths and, specifically at this moment, between their followers.
“Harrogate people are well-known for being welcoming and accepting. These are values we should cherish as we live our lives in respect and understanding and celebrate both what makes us different and what we share. As-salamu alaykum.”
Mr Cohen, who is president of Harrogate Hebrew Congregation, said:
“The imam and I meeting today vividly demonstrates that although being of different faiths there is no difference in our humanity and our values of respect, tolerance, community and a desire for peace.
“We call on everyone in Harrogate and beyond to embrace these shared values and to exhibit them in all they do. Shalom.”
The meeting came after a weekend when hundreds of thousands of people attended a Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) demonstration in London on Saturday.
The march was marred by outbreaks of violence and intimidating behaviour, and the Metropolitan Police said that 145 people were arrested, the majority of them far-right counter-protesters.
Seven of these have since been charged with offences including possession of an offensive weapon and assault on an emergency worker.
Mr Jones said:
“I am grateful to the imam, the president of the synagogue and Rev Garrow for coming together to emphasise a message of tolerance, calm and respect. Islamophobic and antisemitic acts are unacceptable and I am pleased that we seem not to be experiencing an increase in this kind of hatred locally.
“This meeting is important because it demonstrates that whatever our beliefs we are compassionate beings sharing humanitarian values and respecting one another.”
Read more:
- Bid to list church near Ripon as asset of community value rejected
- Holocaust survivor, 94, welcomes new memorial at Harrogate Synagogue
- Visual of Harrogate’s first mosque released as £50,000 appeal launched
Car bursts into flames at Harlow Carr
Visitors leaving RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate on Saturday were shocked to see a car burst into flames in the car-park.
The car, believed to be an 11-year-old, yellow, three-door Vauxhall Corsa, was seen with smoke coming out from under its bonnet, before the fire took hold.
One visitor, Kim Jones, told the Stray Ferret:
“We were just coming to the exit at Harlow Carr and suddenly a huge plume of smoke appeared in the car-park. Then one of the cars just went ‘whoosh’ and burst into flames.
“There was at least one explosion – something in the car exploded – but fortunately it didn’t get to the petrol tank.”
Firefighters were called to the scene at 4.43pm and kept bystanders at a distance while they put out the blaze.
Ms Jones said:
“I thought it was my car at first, but it turned out to be a car a couple of spaces away from mine. It was quite late in the afternoon, so fortunately there weren’t many other cars there at the time.”
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but the Stray Ferret has contacted North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service and RHS Harlow Carr for more information.
Photo: Kim Jones.
Read more:
- Firefighters called to two-vehicle collision near Harrogate
- Firefighters use breathing apparatus to tackle Knaresborough house blaze
- Police and fire HQ evacuated after person hands in grenades
Northern pledges to target persistent fare dodgers on its services
Northern has pledged to crackdown on persistent fare dodgers on its services.
The rail company, which operates services through Harrogate and Knaresborough to Leeds and York, issued the warning and promised to prosecute those who dodge fares for historic cases.
The move comes as the firm set up its digital fraud investigations team in 2021 amid a surge in digital tickets after the covid pandemic.
Around 70% of tickets on Northerns services are bought online.
Mark Powles, commercial and customer director at Northern, said:
“Fare evasion hasn’t been as simple as people just not buying a ticket for quite some time.
“There are people who try to outsmart the system through a complex process of fraudulent refund requests, delay repay claims and a process known as ‘short faring’.
“What those people might not realise is that, as with any electronic transaction, our systems are able to identify suspicious activity and bring it to the attention of our specialist investigators.”
The company said it investigated 108,681 reports of attempted fare evasion in the 2022-23 financial year.
It attended 301 court sittings during the same period, helping to secure 14,072 convictions.
Northern said the prosecutions help to recoup £2.9 million in lost revenue for the taxpayer.
Read more:
- Man in 90s dies after Harrogate collision
- Two men arrested after Boroughbridge burglary
- Police release CCTV image after fight in Harrogate McDonald’s
Yorkshire Water begins installing parking charges equipment at Harrogate district reservoirs
Work is set to begin this week to install equipment and infrastructure at Harrogate district reservoirs as part of a parking charges trial.
Yorkshire Water is undertaking the work at Swinsty Moor car park today, with Swinsty Stack Point, Thruscross and Fewston set to follow afterwards.
The company is introducing payment machines and automatic number plate recognition cameras at the reservoirs.
It will see charges introduced at the car parks from early 2024.
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said:
“We know how important our sites are to local communities and visitors alike. We have thought long and hard about the way people use our sites before implementing this trial, as well as considering approaches at similar sites around the country. We believe a small parking fee and increased security will help to dissuade anti-social behaviour, such as fly-tipping, at our sites but also have a long-term positive impact in terms of the projects we can deliver in the future.
“Our brand-new, in-house ranger team will be supported as a direct result of introducing these charges and we have a wide range of exciting conservation, community and facilities enhancements lined up for the future.
“We will be collaborating with local authorities and local stakeholders to ensure the introduction of these tariffs in 2024 causes minimal disruption and will be working hard to ensure all our visitors are aware of the charges before they arrive at our sites.”
Car park users will be able to pay via card payment on site, by using the RingGo app or telephone.
The proposed tariffs will be one hour at £1, two hours at £2, six hours at £3 and an all day pass for £5.
Meanwhile, an annual pass for all car parks will cost £30.
Parking will remain free for blue badge holders.
Bransby Wilson Parking Solutions, based in York, has been appointed to operate the parking meters.
Read more:
- Reservoir parking costs could cause ‘tremendous problems’ on nearby roads
- Swinsty and Fewston parking charges to include ‘season ticket’
Stray Ferret Business Awards: Do you have a rising star you want to recognise?
The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2024 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.
Over the next few weeks we will reveal what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.
Next up is the Rising Star under 30 Award, which is sponsored by Thompsons Chartered Accountants.
This award is designed to highlight some of the young talent from across the Harrogate district.
Those nominated or who enter for the Rising Star under 30 Award are sure to make waves and build a successful career in the years to come.
Entries for this category need to provide details of the person’s background and position they hold in the business. Provide examples of how the entrant’s work ethic has affected the business for the better.
Do you know someone who deserves to win the Rising Star Under 30 Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 19. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!
Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.
Police release CCTV image after fight in Harrogate McDonald’sPolice have released a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to after a fight in McDonald’s in Harrogate.
The incident happened on Sunday, October 15, and involved multiple people fighting in the fast food outlet on Cambridge Road at 4.30am.
North Yorkshire Police has arrested two men, aged 19 and 31, in connection with the incident.
Now, officers have released a CCTV image of a man they wish to speak to as part of their investigation.
A police statement added:
“Officers are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the person in the images as they believe they will have information that will help the investigation.
“Anyone with any information is asked to email benjamin.ambler2@northyorkshire.police.uk
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“Please quote reference number 12230195734 when passing on information.”
Read more: