How the moment of luck foiled the bomb plot

It was a simple act of kindness and an ill-timed text message that combined to prevent a “terrorist atrocity” at a Yorkshire hospital.

In the early hours of January 20 last year, Mohammad Farooq arrived at St James’s Hospital in Leeds armed with two knives, an imitation firearm and a pressure cooker bomb.

The 28-year-old clinical support worker planned to trigger the evacuation to lure patients and staff into the deadly trap.

Prosecutors said the plan was fueled by “bullying” in the office and “extremist Islamic ideology” that led him to “seek his own martyrdom” through “deadly terrorist attacks”.

Jurors heard that it was the only chance to meet with a patient who struck up a conversation with someone who averted a tragedy on an unthinkable scale.

On Tuesday, Farooq, who had pleaded guilty to firearms offenses and possession of explosives with intent, was found guilty of preparing an act of terrorism.

The first part of the scheme relied on bomb threats sent to staff members, who were expected to break evacuation protocols.

However, the nurse contacted not that day and another hour before he saw the text message and took action.

The delay forced Farooq to change his plans and he decided to turn off his homemade device in the hospital cafe.

As he waits for a shift change to increase the number of victims, he is discovered by patient Nathan Newby.

Mr Newby said Farooq looked “sad and distressed” and he decided to approach him “to see if he was OK”.

It was then that Farooq announced his evil plan, which was partly motivated by a grievance against his friends.

Mr. Newby remained calm and asked about the circumstances that made Farooq feel the way he did.

Eventually, Farooq allowed her to call 999, and she was arrested moments later.

Det Sup Paul Greenwood, head of investigations for Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said he had never seen an attack that could have been prevented.

“You’re almost there,” he told BBC Look North.

“Especially when they are harassed by members of the public through intervention in a situation where frankly most people would walk away when they see Farooq has a bomb he can carry, when they see the level of threat he poses.”

Det Supt Greenwood said Mr Newby was under significant threat and called his actions “heroic”.

“I think what he did last night was unique, but he, when I spoke to him, said he was in the right place at the right time.

“I strongly disagree. He was the right person in the right place at the right time, because most people wouldn’t do what he did.”

A trial at Sheffield Crown Court later heard how Farooq’s bomb was about “double the size” of the device used in the 2013 Boston Marathon attack, which killed three and injured hundreds.

“Who knows how devastating the attack will be, but a pressure cooker bomb could do it,” added Det Supt Greenwood.

“They aim to be able to enter the hospital, to be in a confined space, especially if there is an evacuation, which is quite dense at that time.

“So yes, it can be very damaging and really, I think, (a) very high possibility of loss of life.”

Ahead of the three-week trial, Farooq pleaded guilty to firearms offenses and possessing explosive materials with intent.

He also admitted to having documents that could be useful to those preparing or carrying out acts of terrorism.

He refused to prepare an act of terrorism, citing the motive to scare his friends, whom he accused of “bullying”.

However, evidence gathered by the police showed Farooq had been radicalized online and had downloaded documents on how to make explosives.

Police also found video footage of how to make black powder on a cellphone.

The court heard Farooq initially identified two potential targets for the attack: St James’s Hospital and RAF Menwith Hill, an air base near Harrogate.

ANPR cameras showed he visited RAF Menwith Hill twice in the 10 days before his arrest and made an internet search for events and projects there after one trip.

However, failing due to security and problems getting into the base, his focus shifted to St James’s Hospital.