Terrorist Who Plotted Bomb Attack on Army Base to Be Freed from Prison
Zahid Iqbal, a British terrorist who has been incarcerated since 2013, is set to be released from prison after the Parole Board approved his freedom. Iqbal was convicted for his role in a chilling plot to attack a Territorial Army centre in Luton using a remote-controlled toy car rigged with a homemade bomb.
Details of the Al-Qaeda-Inspired Plot
Iqbal and his accomplice, Mohammed Sharfaraz Ahmed, meticulously planned an al-Qaeda-inspired assault, discussing the construction of an improvised explosive device (IED) based on instructions from an al-Qaeda manual. Covert recordings captured Iqbal detailing the scheme, noting the "quite a big gap" under the gates of the Marsh Road TA centre, where a toy car could drive underneath a vehicle to deliver the bomb.
He was heard telling Ahmed: "I was looking and drove past like the TA centre, Marsh Road. At the bottom of their gate there’s quite a big gap. If you had a little toy car it drives underneath one of their vehicles or something." The pair were arrested following a series of raids at their homes and later pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism.
Sentencing and Parole Board Decision
In 2013, both men were sentenced to 16 years in prison, with the sentencing judge, Mr Justice Wilkie, stipulating they must serve at least 11 years and three months. At the end of January, the Parole Board ruled that Iqbal should be released, approximately three years earlier than his maximum sentence would have ended.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board emphasized that their decisions are solely focused on assessing the risk a prisoner poses to the public and whether that risk can be managed in the community. The panel reviews extensive evidence, including:
- Details of the original crime and its impact on victims
- Evidence of behavioural change and rehabilitation
- Testimonies from probation officers, psychiatrists, and psychologists
- Supervision reports from prison officials
The spokesperson noted: "Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority."
Political Backlash and Calls for Veto
The decision has ignited significant political controversy, with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp urging Justice Secretary David Lammy to veto the Parole Board's ruling. In a letter, Philp highlighted the ongoing threat of Islamist extremism in the UK, stating: "We all know the threat posed by Islamist extremism in this country. That is why the Government must veto the decision to release Zahid Iqbal and keep him behind bars."
This case underscores the delicate balance between rehabilitation and public safety in the criminal justice system, as authorities grapple with the release of individuals convicted of serious terrorism offences.
