MI5 bomb hoaxer Ghulam Kibria jailed

A hoaxer who emailed a bomb threat to the "contact us" section of MI5's website was jailed for 16 months today.

Ghulam Kibria, 33, was tracked down by anti-terrorism officers after informing the security services that a bomb had been hidden in a Birminghamjunior school.

The email to MI5, which included the name of Kibria's ex-wife, said: "There is a bomb planted in Prince Albert Junior and Infant School in Aston. There is nothing you can do - we can strike any time, anywhere."

Kibria, of Rugby Place, Lidget Green, Bradford, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to communicating a bomb hoax at Birmingham Magistrates' Court in January. He was sentenced by Judge John Maxwell at the city's Crown Court today.

At an earlier hearing, prosecutor David Devine told the court that the email, sent on November 8 last year, was taken as a "clear and immediate threat" by the police and 700 pupils and 110 members of staff and parents were evacuated from the school.

Kibria's laptop was seized by police and a copy of the email was found on the hard drive.

Detective Inspector Neil Corrigan, from West Midlands Police, said: "We take hoax bomb reports very seriously and will always work to bring offenders before the courts.

"Kibria's actions wasted a significant amount of police time and resources, and could have taken officers away from more urgent matters.

"It also caused considerable inconvenience to teachers, pupils and parents at the school.

"We hope the fact that Kibria has been given a custodial sentence will act as a warning to others not to act so irresponsibly."

PA