A Syrian immigrant has been found guilty and received a seven-year prison term in Britain for terrorist attacks by attempting to make bombs at his home.
Hassan Tabbakh, 38, was convicted by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court , which took around five-and-a-half hours unanimously for a single charge of “obtaining chemicals and compiling and retaining documents with instructions for making an explosive device.” brought under the Section 5 of the 2006 Terrorism Act, namely preparation of acts of terrorism.
After the verdict was returned, it emerged that Tabbakh was given indefinite leave to remain in the UK in 2005 after lodging an application for asylum. He had arrived in Britain in either 1999 or 2000, initially living in Hull.
Tabbakh, a former chemistry student, was arrested on December 18 last year in his Birmingham home. Police found 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 chemistry student's computer, while his MP3 player contained a Jihadi song which included the chorus "This is the meaning of terrorism".as well as liquid chemicals and hand-written notes in Arabic containing instructions for bomb making.
In denying the charges, Tabbakh had claimed he was making fireworks for a religious festival. He admitted not having a license to make fireworks as required by British law.