Tories say Al Qaeda-inspired terrorist who plotted to bomb UK army base MUST stay behind bars after prison officials said he is too dangerous to be freed

An al-Qaeda-inspired terrorist who planned to bomb an army base in the UK should be kept in prison after it emerged he could be released within weeks, the Conservatives have said.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has written to Justice Secretary David Lammy urging Mr Lammy to veto the parole board’s decision to release Zahid Iqbal three years ahead of his maximum sentence, as first revealed in the Mail.

Iqbal was a member of a terrorist gang planning an attack on Territorial Army headquarters in Luton, where a remote-controlled toy car would be used to deliver a homemade bomb.

The group’s co-leader planned to make the bomb according to instructions in an Al Qaeda manual titled ‘Make a bomb in your mother’s kitchen’ written by the Al Qaeda chief.

Iqbal and his collaborators were imprisoned in 2013, and the 43-year-old man was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He admitted that he took actions in preparation for terrorist acts.

In his letter to Mr Lammy, seen by the Daily Mail, Mr Philp wrote that he was ‘deeply concerned’ by the parole board’s decisions because both the prison offenders manager and the community offenders manager said he should remain behind bars.

He said: ‘Under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 the Secretary of State for Justice has the power to veto recommendations for the release of criminals, including terrorists.

‘We [The Conservatives] I ask that you use this power to keep this dangerous criminal behind bars.

Iqbal and his collaborators planned an attack on Territorial Army headquarters in Luton (pictured) in which a remote-controlled toy car would be used to deliver a homemade bomb.

‘We all know the threat posed by Islamist extremism in this country. In Great Britain, Islamists have been responsible for 94 percent of deaths from terrorism since 1999 and nearly 88 percent of injuries from terrorism over the same period.

‘We must take this threat seriously. Therefore, the Government should veto the decision to release Zahid Iqbal and keep him behind bars.’

The decision was made despite both the prison offenders manager and the community offenders manager saying he should remain in prison.

A survivor of the terror attack and experts criticized the decision, saying he believed he would strike again and the Parole Board would have ‘blood on his hands’.

Iqbal He is also thought to be linked to Westminster terror attacker Khalid Masood.

Masood was investigated as part of the Army base plot and it was thought the two may have known each other. Masood was living in Luton and it is thought they may have come into contact at a gym.

On 2 November 2021, Iqbal was released on the instructions of the Parole Board, but was recalled in 2023 after a number of concerns were raised.

A report on his release said: ‘Evidence was given at the hearing regarding Mr Iqbal’s progress during this sentence and since his recall, and his behavior in custody.

‘During his time on licensure, Mr Iqbal was assessed by professionals as having a low level of involvement in extremist ideology.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp (pictured) has written to Justice Secretary David Lammy urging Mr Lammy to veto the parole board’s decision to release Iqbal three years ahead of his maximum sentence.

Mohammed Sharfaraz Ahmed (pictured left) was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in the 2013 terrorist plot. Farhan Hussain (right) sentenced to five years in prison

‘In relation to his sentence, Mr Iqbal had undertaken an accredited program addressing extremist crimes and ways to avoid them.

‘He had also completed studies to help him better understand his faith and was seen to keep his distance from other extremist criminals.’

The report said that while “there have been no behavioral issues in custody since the recall”, the “main concern” for professionals was that they did not know what he was doing while on licence, due to the “nature of the breaches”.

This included possessing a phone that probation officers were unaware of.

The report states: ‘While the psychologist recommended release, the director of prison offenders and the director of community offenders recommended that Mr Iqbal remain in custody.

‘The panel examined the release plan provided by Mr Iqbal’s probation officer and compared his recommendations with the assessed risks.

‘The plan included strict restrictions on Mr Iqbal’s contacts, movements and activities, as well as a requirement to remain in designated accommodation. The panel considered whether full license conditions would be required in this case. He concluded that the release plan would be robust enough to handle Mr Iqbal in the community.’

The report added: ‘The panel is not convinced that Mr Iqbal continues to pose a risk of conducting, encouraging or supporting extremist activities. ‘No other areas of potential risk were identified and there was evidence that Mr Iqbal no longer held an extremist ideology.’

Umar Arshad (pictured left) was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the planned attack. Iqbal is also thought to be linked to Westminster terror attacker Khalid Masood (right)

They will now be under strict conditions, including staying at a designated address, disclosing details of relationships, being available for police searches and adhering to restrictions on technology use.

Jade Clough, who was injured in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, said that Iqbal’s release scared her very much.

He said: ‘I’m really afraid he might launch an attack. This is too bad. Why not listen to the experts who know him?

‘Surely they know him better than anyone else lately? They say keep him in prison. This is a shocking decision.

‘It is also putting increasing pressure on our security services.’

Terrorism expert Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of UK forces in Afghanistan, described the decisions as ‘deeply unreasonable’.

‘This has all the hallmarks of the London Bridge attacker Usman Khan case. He was released and then carried out a horrific attack. I’m afraid this could happen here,’ said Colonel Kemp.

‘The Parole Board went against the advice of experts. They are putting the lives of British citizens at risk.

‘If this person attacks, the blood of his victims will be on the Parole Board’s hands.’

Woolwich Crown Court where the gang were sentenced in March 2013

The report stated: ‘After considering the circumstances of the offense and the time spent on licence, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that a prison sentence was no longer necessary for the protection of the public.

‘The panel is not convinced that Mr Iqbal continues to pose a risk of conducting, encouraging or supporting extremist activities. ‘No other areas of potential risk were identified and there was evidence that Mr Iqbal no longer held an extremist ideology.’

In 2023, three members of the terrorist gang, Umar Arshad, Syed Farhan Hussain and Mohammed Sharfaraz Ahmed, were quietly released from prison.

Arshad was previously sentenced to six years and nine months in prison, while Hussein was sentenced to five years and three months.

Ahmed was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

In March 2013, at Woolwich Crown Court, four men admitted engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts between 1 January 2011 and 25 April 2012, at a hearing on 1 March.

The four men sat in the dock, smiling and giggling as tapes of them discussing bomb making were played in court.

Sentencing the men, Mr Justice Wilkie QC said in April 2013 that Iqbal and Ahmed, then 25, posed an ongoing risk to the public.

Their extended 11-year prison sentence and an additional five years on license upon release reflected their key role in the conspiracy.

The terms of their sentences mean they can be recalled to prison at any time during their five-year license period.

The judge said: ‘In each of the cases, their persistent commitment to terrorist activity in various forms over a significant period of time and, in each case, their willingness to take practical steps to undertake terrorist training abroad mark them out as particularly dangerous.

‘This, combined with the fact that after their homes had been searched and they had clearly been placed under serious suspicion, they nevertheless continued to have access to material consistent with the mentality that had guided their previous preparatory activities, persuades me that they remain so ‘dangerous’ that I should exercise my discretion to impose an extended sentence.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: The decision to release Zahid Iqbal was made by the independent Parole Board following a comprehensive risk assessment.

‘Officials acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Justice are examining whether there are grounds to appeal the Parole Board’s decision through the reconsideration mechanism.’