Teenager accused of 'ruthlessly' grooming friend for Lee Rigby-style terrorist murder

Messages between the pair were unearthed during a police raid in east London

(FILE PHOTO) Conversations instructing Harry Thomas to buy the ingredients for a pipe bomb were uncovered when police raided Kazi Islam’s house in east London (Getty)

A would-be teenage terrorist "ruthlessly exploited" an impressionable friend in a plot to carry out a murder similar to that of Fusilier Lee Rigby, the Old Bailey has heard.

Kazi Islam, 18, is accused of grooming 19-year-old Harry Thomas to buy the ingredients for a pipe bomb and to attack one or more soldiers with a knife. Conversations on BlackBerry Messenger and social media sites were uncovered when police raided Mr Islam’s house in east London, jurors were told.

Annabel Darlow QC, for the prosecution, said Mr Islam had befriended Mr Thomas in October 2013. He went on to incite Mr Thomas to kill a soldier with stories of children being murdered by military forces, even suggesting he started calling himself Haroon.

Mr Islam ordered Mr Thomas not to talk to anyone after Mr Thomas admitted telling “a few mates”, the court heard. The defendant allegedly said: “Don’t tell anyone... The brothers are gonna come after me and kill me and they’re gonna kill u as well.”

Mr Islam denies engaging in preparation of terrorist acts. The trial continues.