Umar Haque, the Islamic teacher who tried to brainwash children aged between 11 and 14 at the Ripple Road Mosque in Barking, East London, by making them act out battles between police and ISIS, has been jailed for a minimum of 25 years. Haque, who also drew up targets in London for potential terror attacks such as Big Ben, London Heathrow Airport and Parliament, was dragged from the dock at the Old Bailey as he preached the end of “western domination”.
Justice Haddon-Cave said that Haque had the opportunity to engage with Prevent, the government's voluntary deradicalisation programme in June 2016, however, he declined the offer.
Haque, who had no teaching qualification, had access to 250 children, 35 of which are not receiving support amid radicalisation fears.
Jihadi who had two council flats
One of Umar Haque's confidant, Muhammad Abid, 27, who allegedly plotted to bomb landmark sites in London as well as radicalise young boys, is said to have had two council flats – one for himself and one for his wife.
It is said that he manage to fraudulently get two council flats by claiming his wife, Juwayriyah Noor, needed her own flat as she “wanted her independence”.
Abid told jurors, “She wanted to maintain her independence from myself and, number two, because of her health conditions.”
He allegedly informed the council that his wife was suffering from “stress and post-natal depression”, hence required full-time care. He claimed benefits for being his wife's carer, despite living in the other flat, 20 minutes drive away from her.
MPs have called an investigation into how Newham Council was duped by Abid. Priti Patel, the Former Secretary of State for International Development has stated, “The abuse of the housing register and benefits system is scandalous and questions must be asked as to how he cheated it. At a time when there is a shortage of housing, Newham [Council] should have been more vigilant and carried out more checks.”
In a statement, Newham Council expressed, “The council was not aware that they were a couple until after the husband's arrest. They have never been dealt with by our housing service as a couple.”
Muhammad Abid was sentenced to four years and three months at the Old Bailey for failing to reveal information about terror plans conceived by Umar Haque.
Abuthaher Mamun, 19, was jailed for 12 years for helping Haque prepare attacks. Mamun was given a further year on for extended licence. Nadeem Patel, 26, was cleared of plotting with Haque and had also previously admitted to having a gun.
