Al Qaeda-Inspired Terrorist to be Released Despite Expert Warnings of Danger
An Al Qaeda-inspired terrorist who plotted to bomb a UK army base will be released from jail in mere weeks, despite multiple experts warning he remains too dangerous to be set free. Zahid Iqbal, now 43, was a key member of a terrorist gang that planned an attack at a Territorial Army centre in Luton, where they intended to use a remote-controlled toy car to deliver a homemade explosive device.
The Original Plot and Sentencing
Iqbal and his co-conspirators were jailed in 2013 after admitting to engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism. The co-leader of the group planned to construct the bomb using instructions from an Al Qaeda manual titled 'Make a bomb in the kitchen of your mom - by the Al Qaeda chef'. Iqbal received a 16-year prison sentence for his central role in the conspiracy, which also included arranging terrorism training in Pakistan and discussing weapon acquisition.
Now, the Parole Board has controversially ruled that Iqbal should be allowed back onto the streets, three years earlier than his maximum sentence would have required. This decision comes despite both his prison offender manager and community offender manager explicitly recommending that he remain in custody for public safety reasons.
Controversial Release Decision
The Parole Board's report acknowledged that while Iqbal had undertaken accredited programs to address extremist offending and had shown no behavioral issues in custody since his recall, significant concerns remain. Professionals noted they could not fully assess his activities while on previous licence due to breaches, including possessing an unauthorized phone.
The psychologist involved recommended release, but both the prison offender manager and community offender manager maintained he should stay incarcerated. The panel ultimately concluded that imprisonment was no longer necessary for public protection, determining Iqbal no longer held extremist ideology and posed no risk of supporting extremist activity.
Expert and Survivor Criticism
Terror attack survivors and security experts have vehemently criticized the decision. Jade Clough, who was injured in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, expressed terror at Iqbal's impending release. "I have real fear he will carry out an attack. It's awful. Why not listen to the experts who know him?" she questioned. "Surely they know him better than anyone recently? They are saying keep him in prison. It's a shocking decision."
Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of UK forces in Afghanistan and a terrorism expert, described the decision as "extremely unwise" and drew parallels to the case of London Bridge attacker Usman Khan, who was released before carrying out a deadly attack. "The Parole Board has gone against the advice of experts. They are putting the lives of British citizens at risk," Kemp warned. "If this individual does attack, then the blood of his victims will be on the hands of the Parole Board."
Connections and Previous Release
Iqbal is also believed to have had connections to Westminster terror attacker Khalid Masood, who was investigated as part of the same Army base plot. The pair may have known each other through mutual connections in Luton, potentially meeting at a local gym. Masood had previously lived in the same area where the plot was conceived.
This marks Iqbal's second release attempt. He was initially released on the direction of the Parole Board in November 2021 but was recalled in 2023 after multiple concerns were raised about his conduct while on licence. The current release plan includes strict conditions requiring him to reside at a designated address, disclose relationship details, submit to police searches, and adhere to technology use restrictions.
Broader Context of Gang Releases
In 2023, three other members of the same terror gang were quietly released from prison:
- Umar Arshad, previously jailed for six years and nine months
- Syed Farhan Hussain, sentenced to five years and three months
- Mohammed Sharfaraz Ahmed, who received an 11-year sentence
All four men had pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court in March 2013 to engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism between January 2011 and April 2012. During sentencing, Mr Justice Wilkie QC specifically noted that Iqbal and Ahmed posed a continuing risk to the public, resulting in extended sentences that included additional licence periods after release.
The judge emphasized: "In each of their cases, their persistent commitment to terrorist activity, in a number of different ways, over a significant period of time and, in each case, their willingness to take practical steps to obtain terrorist training abroad, marks them out as particularly dangerous."
