LONDON: A husband and wife convicted of planning a major attack to mark the 10th anniversary of the London suicide bombings were both sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday.

Mohammad Rehman, 25, who used the Twitter name “Silent Bomber” and asked users whether he should bomb a shopping centre or the London Underground train network, will serve a minimum of 27 years.

Judge Jeremy Baker ruled that his wife Sana Ahmed Khan, 24, must serve a minimum of 25 years after being found guilty on Tuesday.

Rehman was arrested in May after posting a tweet that said: “Westfield shopping centre or London underground? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.”

The tweet was linked to an Al Qaeda statement about the July 2005 bombings in which four suicide bombers targeted London’s transport system, killing 52 people.

The couple were accused of planning their attack for around May 28.

Police seized more than 10kg of urea nitrate, which could be used to manufacture a large bomb, from their house.

Rehman also filmed himself testing explosives in the couple’s back garden.

Rehman was found guilty of creating the bomb, while his wife funded the project and bought the chemicals, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Their bomb “would have caused multiple fatalities” if it had been detonated on the London Underground, it said.

“The intention to carry out some form of terrorist attack was clear,” Susan Hemming, head of the CPS counter-terrorism division, said following the verdict.

“The pair had been very close to carrying out an attack. All they required was to purchase the chemicals to make a detonator.”

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2015

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...