Between July 2014 and October 2014 Tarik Hassane, aged 22, and Suhaib Majeed, aged 21, both from West London, plotted to carry out at least one, and probably multiple, terrorist murders using a silenced firearm. Their most likely targets were police officers or servicemen in London.
Mr. Hassane, who was studying medicine in Khartoum, and Mr. Majeed, physics undergraduate at Kings College London, devised their plot using a variety of secure and encrypted systems to communicate. When discussing key aspects they would often use code words in an attempt to disguise their true purpose. Their preparations included the sourcing of the all-important gun, a moped and a storage unit.
The plot was for terrorist purposes linked to ISIL. Mr. Hassane and Mr. Majeed both possessed mind-set material, providing insight into their ideology, and into the essential terrorist purpose underlying the plot. This ideology was confirmed by Mr. Hassane pledging allegiance to ISIL in July 2014, and by their reaction to an ISIL issued fatwa which sanctioned violent action against the West.
On 23 September 2014 two of their criminal associates, Nyall Hamlett, aged 25, and Nathan Cuffy, aged 26, supplied Mr. Majeed with acquire a converted Baikal pistol, silencer and ammunition, a combination described in court as "an assassin's weapon". Having collected these items Mr. Majeed took them back to his home address and almost immediately on his return he sent a message to Mr. Hassane which said "Got it".
In the evening of 24 September police officers executed a search warrant at Mr. Majeed's home address. On forcing entry to the property, the gun, silencer and ammunition were thrown from Mr Majeed's bedroom window. Mr. Majeed, Mr. Hamlett and Mr. Cuffy were all arrested.
Mr. Hassane flew back to Heathrow on 30 September 2014. Between 1 and 5 October, he conducted online reconnaissance of a police station and a Territorial Army barracks, intending to pursue his murderous aims in spite of his co-conspirator's arrest. He was, however, prevented from doing so when he was himself arrested on 7 October.
The Judge emphasized the gravity of the crimes committed:
‘In my judgement it is hard to contemplate a more grave offence than conspiring, deliberately and seriously, to commit murder against your fellow citizens, targeting, as I find was the case, those whose duty it is to protect the public, as part of what you both perceived as your religious duty, your contribution to what you perceived as a war being conducted by radical Islamists against those whom you characterise as unbelievers, and advancing that conspiracy by obtaining the deadly means by which murder was to be carried out.’
conspiracy to murder
Tarik Hassane and Suhaib Majeed made preparations for an terrorist during the summer of 2014.
Despite a disruption to the plot, Hassane returned to the UK in October 2014 and was reportedly monitoring Shepherd’s Bush police station and/or a Territorial Army barracks in White City in London as potential sites for the attack. Hassane was picked up shortly after his return to the UK.
preparation of terrorist acts
Tarik Hassane and Suhaib Majeed made preparations for an terrorist during the summer of 2014.
Despite a disruption to the plot, Hassane returned to the UK in October 2014 and was reportedly monitoring Shepherd’s Bush police station and/or a Territorial Army barracks in White City in London as potential sites for the attack. Hassane was picked up shortly after his return to the UK.
Conspiracy to murder
Suhaib Majeed made preparations for an terrorist during the summer of 2014. Majeed was tasked with procuring a firearm, ammunition and a moped that could be used in an attack when Hassane returned to the UK, while Hassane would be the gunman.
preparation of terrorist acts
Suhaib Majeed made preparations for an terrorist during the summer of 2014. Majeed was tasked with procuring a firearm, ammunition and a moped that could be used in an attack when Hassane returned to the UK, while Hassane would be the gunman.
possession of a firearm with intention to endanger life.
Majeed sourced a converted Baikal pistol with a silencer and a magazine containing six rounds of ammunition from low-level street gang member
possession of a prohibited weapon
Majeed sourced a converted Baikal pistol with a silencer and a magazine containing six rounds of ammunition from low-level street gang member
possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate
Majeed sourced a converted Baikal pistol with a silencer and a magazine containing six rounds of ammunition from low-level street gang member Nyall Hamlett.
transferring a prohibited firearm
Nyall Hamlett, aged 25, and Nathan Cuffy, aged 26, supplied Mr. Majeed with a gun, silencer and ammunition.
selling or transferring ammunition
Nyall Hamlett, aged 25, and Nathan Cuffy, aged 26, supplied Mr. Majeed with a gun, silencer and ammunition
selling or transferring ammunition
Nyall Hamlett, aged 25, and Nathan Cuffy, aged 26, supplied Mr. Majeed with a gun, silencer and ammunition
transferring a prohibited firearm
Nyall Hamlett, aged 25, and Nathan Cuffy, aged 26, supplied Mr. Majeed with a gun, silencer and ammunition.
possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life
Nyall Hamlett, aged 25, and Nathan Cuffy, aged 26, supplied Mr. Majeed with a gun, silencer and ammunition.
possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life
Nyall Hamlett, aged 25, and Nathan Cuffy, aged 26, supplied Mr. Majeed with a gun, silencer and ammunition.
Central Criminal Court of England and Wales
This case exemplifies the connection between terrorism and firearms.