Glasgow Airport Bombers 'Planned Nightclub Terror Campaign'

Islamic extremists planned to carry out a series of spectacular terror attacks against British nightclubs, the Old Bailey has heard.

Glasgow Airport bomber's email to brother Hundreds of people at one club in London escaped death last June only because two car bombs packed with improvised explosives and gas cylinders failed to go off.

One of the devices was left directly outside the Tiger Tiger club in the capital’s Haymarket area and the second was positioned further down the street. The bombers tried to set them off with mobile phones but the fume-filled cars did not ignite and the club was successfully evacuated.

Details of the attempted bombing and a further terror campaign emerged on Friday as an NHS doctor was jailed for failing to tell police about his brother’s involvement in the London car bombs and the terror attack on Glasgow airport.

Sabeel Ahmed, 26, an Indian NHS doctor living in Liverpool, pleaded guilty to failing to disclose information relating to an act of terrorism and was sentenced to 18 months.

He failed to tell police his brother Kafeel had sent him a text message half an hour before he drove a burning Jeep into the Scottish airport.

Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, said Kafeel and others had targeted "clubs and places of entertainment where the devastating effect and loss of life would be the greatest".

He said: "This was to be a campaign the bombers hoped would increase the level of fear felt by the general population in this country in the further threat of Islamic extremism."

The message received by Sabeel told him to go to an email account where his brother had left instructions telling him to pretend that Kafeel, 28, was in Iceland studying global warming, the court heard.

Although Sabeel did not access the account until an hour after the attacks, he kept up his brother’s pretence when arrested by police. Having served 270 days he will now be released into the hands of immigration officials and will be deported to Bangalore.

The court heard the message would have been of "considerable assistance" to counter-terrorist police.

During the hearing, new details emerged of how Kafeel, who died as a result of the injuries he received, and another man who faces trial later this year, had allegedly planned a prolonged bombing campaign against night clubs in the spring and summer of last year.

The devices planted outside Tiger Tiger in June were viable but may have failed to go off because there was not enough air in the vehicles for the gas mixture to ignite, the court was told.

There was more equipment in an alleged Glasgow bomb factory but the plans became a suicide mission when the devices in London failed to go off and the bombers feared they would be arrested, it was claimed.

A series of calls had been made to the mobile phones designed to set off the explosion but it had only led to a small explosion in the second car which failed to ignite the main charge.

"These were plainly viable devices which could quite easily have killed if they had exploded with the desired effect, many, many people," said Mr Laidlaw. "The fact they did not was not for want of trying."

The court also heard alleged reconnaissance trips were made to London on May 18 and May 20.

Mr Laidlaw said: "This was to be a campaign in which the bombers were hoping they would be able to carry out a series of large and spectacular attacks so as to maximise loss of life."

The bombers allegedly met together on Edgware Road after the failed attacks and stayed overnight in East London before returning to Scotland, arriving back at midnight on June 29.

That night, it is claimed, they prepared the third vehicle at the bomb factory and at 3.15pm Kafeel drove past the taxi rank at Glasgow Airport and turned sharply, crashing into the pillars outside the main doors before reversing and trying again.

The Jeep came to rest just 20 feet from queuing passengers, some of whom were injured in the panic, and he allegedly began throwing petrol bombs.

As Kafeel got out of the vehicle he was "engulfed in flames that swept around the Jeep and terminal building," said Mr Laidlaw.

Mr Justice Calvert-Smith said it was clear from the email Kafeel sent to his brother that he expected to die in the attack.

But he added to Sabeel: "I accept that so far as you personally were concerned there is no sign of your being an extremist or party to extremist views."

Glasgow Airport Bomber's Email To Brother

The suicide bomber behind the terror attack on Glasgow Airport sent his brother a chilling email telling him: "This is the project that I was working on for some time now. Everything else was a lie."

Kafeel Ahmed added: "It's about time that we give up our lives and our families for the sake of Islam to please Allah."

The terrorist, who suffered 90 per cent burns after crashing his jeep into the city's airport, sent the message two days before the attack, the Old Bailey heard.

Kafeel Ahmed, 28, was also involved in bomb attacks on the West End 24 hours earlier, the court was told.

In his message he apologised for being "such a good liar", adding: "It was necessary. This is confidential on behalf of our emir."

Sabeel Ahmed, 26, received a text message from his older brother just before the attack telling him to read the email, which he did later that day.

But he did not tell the police, and pleaded guilty to withholding information about the attack.

Kafeel, who had a PhD in engineering, instructed him in the email not to tell anyone about it and maintain a cover story that he was in Iceland on a global warming project.

The message said: "Inshallah by the time you get this message I should have achieved one of the two goals by the will of Allah.

"I sincerely apologise and pray that you forgive me for keeping this from you. It was for your safety and for the sake of the project.

"And after much deliberation I have decided to write this message so that you are prepared to take the knock-on effects of my actions.

"My sincere request that you do the following:

"1. Pray to Allah for acceptance of my deeds.

"2. Pray to Allah to give you calm and composure and strength (for you will need this)

"3. Do not inform any one about me or my deed (and I mean anyone).

"4. If they figure out it was me (I have tried to clear up my tracks as much as possible) then go ahead and tell them whatever they ask of you (about my PhD and the project on global warming and my trip to Iceland and give them my comp if they ask).

"And of course this is going to put you in trouble (Allah forbid). Say only that which is necessary. And please don't argue. Try to continue as normal but appear shocked. Try to put off telling Abbu-Ammi (mother and father) for as long as possible. I am sorry for putting you in this situation.

"But it's about time that we give up our lives and families for the sake of Islam to please Allah. And you will inshallah get the reward for this.

"5. If they can't figure out who it was, then keep me alive for as long as possible.

"6. If I am caught, then try to maintain calmness (and if asked, repeat my story of PhD and project on global warming) and don't try too hard to get me released, I am prepared for the long haul (May Allah save me from the dreaded prisons).

"It will be your task to explain to people at home. I and the team are making maximum efforts to prevent this.

"7. In any of the above cases, leave this place and go back home or elsewhere as soon as possible.

"8. Please take care of Abbu and Ammi... "

"11. At any time, don't hold back from joining the Jihad, by money, words and actions. Allah makes it easy for those who do so...

"This is the project that I was working on for some time now...Everything else was a lie. And I hope you can all forgive me for being such a good liar.

"It was necessary, just so that you know.

"Everything since last week was executed by me and my team. This is confidential on behalf of our Emir. (If you got a sms, then the plan was stalled mid-way).

"The other email contained my will. In case I am caught please delete it before reading. Otherwise please delete once you have gone through.

"Never check this email again on your computer. Delete internet files, and delete cookies. Delete the downloaded txt file.

"May Allah... reward you for the troubles.

"Your brother Abu Abdurahman."

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