Man accused of hospital terror attack plot admits possessing pressure cooker bomb

A clinical support worker accused of planning terrorist attacks on a hospital in Leeds and an RAF base has admitted possessing a pressure cooker bomb.

Mohammad Farooq is accused of targeting St James’s Hospital in Leeds after a failed attempt to launch a terrorist attack on RAF Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire, motivated by an interest in radical Islam.

The 28-year-old, from Roundhay in Leeds, was arrested in the early hours of 20 January outside the hospital’s maternity ward, following a call from a member of the public.

At a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court, Farooq pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, cause serious injury or damage property, between 18 and 21 January this year.

It is said he was in possession of an improvised explosive device, manufactured from a pressure cooker, an explosive mixture, as well as pyrotechnic fuses.

Farooq has previously pleaded guilty to four other charges, accepting he had an imitation firearm, between 18 and 21 January this year, namely a Gediz 9mm PAK semi-automatic pistol, with intent to resist or prevent his arrest.

He also accepted he possessed the same imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence under section 16 of the Firearms Act 1968.

In one further charge, Farooq accepted he was in possession of a document useful for terrorism, between 23 November last year and 21 January this year. A series of notes were stored in the memory of a mobile telephone that contained viable instructions for the manufacture of the toxic substances ricin, sarin, VX, tabun and tetrodotoxin, a court heard.

Farooq has denied preparing acts of terrorism between 12 July 2021 and 21 January 2023 and is due to face trial on that charge next week.

He is said to have acquired a document titled Safety and Security Guidelines for Lone Wolf Mujahideen and Small Cells and material containing instructions on how to manufacture or assemble an improvised explosive device.

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Farooq is then said to have acquired an explosive substance, components and equipment and to have manufactured or assembled an improvised explosive device.

The charges also say he researched and acquired an imitation firearm that was readily capable of being converted to fire live ammunition, as well as acquiring two knives and black tape.

Farooq allegedly used the internet to identify and research potential targets for an attack and acquired images, plans and maps of potential locations for attack before conducting reconnaissance of potential locations for attack and, between 19 and 20 January, travelled to locations in order to carry out an attack.

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