Graduate jailed for making bombs

A Syrian who attempted to make bombs for al-Qa'ida-style terror attacks after being granted asylum in the UK was jailed for seven years today.

Hassan Tabbakh was told by the Recorder of Birmingham, Judge Frank Chapman, that the devices he created could have been developed into viable bombs capable of causing destruction and death.

Jailing Tabbakh, Judge Chapman said it was fortunate that the 38-year-old's activities had been "nipped in the bud" before he had devised a working bomb.

Tabbakh, of Camelot Way, Small Heath, Birmingham, was convicted of a single count of preparing for acts of terrorism contrary to the 2006 Terrorism Act following a two-week trial at the city's Crown Court.

A jury was told that the physics graduate, who had also studied chemistry, attempted to make bombs using nitrocellulose, fertiliser, white spirit and acetone, and had made handwritten notes stipulating the design of the devices.

Passing sentence, Judge Chapman stressed that Tabbakh was not being punished for his fundamentalist Muslim beliefs or his support for al-Qa'ida or similar organisations.

The judge told Tabbakh: "Provided you do not actively engage in terrorist activity, it's not a crime to hold those views.

"It's true that the materials you in fact had were so inferior, so third rate, that they would not themselves have made a viable bomb.

"But the fault was with the quality of materials and not in the concept.

"If you had developed this concept into a working bomb, there would have been great potential for destruction, injury and death."

After Tabbakh was found guilty, it emerged that he was given indefinite leave to remain in the UK in 2005 after lodging an application for asylum.

It was also revealed that £3,000 in cash was found by police under Tabbakh's bed, which he had been given as compensation by a council which provided him with poor accommodation.

The former student, who claims to have been tortured in his homeland, arrived in Britain in either 1999 or 2000, initially living in Hull.

Prosecutor Max Hill QC told the jury at the start of the trial that the evidence against Tabbakh was straightforward and compelling.

Mr Hill said police found numerous items following Tabbakh's arrest on December 18 last year which showed that he was preparing to wage "al Qaida-style" jihad.

Among the items which proved that Tabbakh had a vibrant interest in Islamic extremism were his music and computer files, which included speeches by Osama Bin Laden and the former leader of al Qaida in Iraq, Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi.

Links to footage of attacks on coalition forces were also found on the former university student's computer, while his MP3 player contained a Jihadi song which included the chorus "This is the meaning of terrorism".

Most importantly, Mr Hill said, a cupboard in the hallway of the defendant's flat contained three plastic bottles filled with bomb-making materials, as well as instructions written in Arabic.

Concluding his opening speech, Mr Hill told the jury: "The Crown's case is that this defendant was caught in the process of a practical attempt to create improvised explosive devices.

"Because he was caught in the act, it follows that the defendant had not completed his task, so the bombs were not finally constructed.

"Equally, because he was caught in the act, neither the written instructions nor the bomb mixtures had reached their destination - when or where the bombs were going to be used is not known."

Tabbakh, who was unemployed, claimed he had been making fireworks with the materials with a view to using them at religious festivals.

Speaking after the case, Superintendent Kenny Bell, of the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, said officers had failed to establish what, if any, targets had been identified.

Asked about evidence which suggested that Tabbakh was going to pass the bombs on to another individual, Mr Bell replied: "We don't know who he was going to give the final constructed bombs to.

"We can only speculate as to the damage that might have been caused in our communities.

"We believe he was making a practical attempt to make a bomb and we arrested him at the right time to maintain public safety."