Terrorist jailed for life for planning a gun attack at Hyde Park

A homegrown terrorist who was just 10 minutes away from getting a gun to launch an attack at London'sHyde Park has been jailed for life.

Edward Little, 22, refused to appear in court for his sentencing - where he's been jailed for a minimum of 16 years.

Little had targeted a Christian preacher who regularly appeared at Speaker's Corner, but police said he could have killed anyone who got in his way.

The defendant, who converted to Islam in prison, settled on the plan after rejecting a mass gun attack on the late Queen's funeral in Westminster.

He was arrested on his way to buy a gun in south London and went on to plead guilty to preparing acts of terrorism.

Last month, three members of a crime gang were jailed for conspiring to provide Little with the gun, although they did not know what it was for.

Jailed in his absence

On Friday, Little refused to come to Court One of the Old Bailey for his sentencing which continued without him.

In mitigation, Tom Godfrey said the defendant had been under surveillance by security forces or police.

He said: "While I accept Mr Little was unaware that his activities were being monitored, the fact that he was being monitored demonstrates the unsophisticated nature of his planning."

"This is a very, very dangerous man who's been stopped from carrying out a terrorist attack"

Speaking afterwards, Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright told the PA news agency: "This is a very, very dangerous man who's been stopped from carrying out a terrorist attack. I'm absolutely convinced of that - and lives have been saved as a result.

"Obviously, he had a target at Speakers' Corner but anyone who got in his way, like a police officer or members of the public, could have been at risk."

Mr Wright, who is head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE), added: "The fact that Little decided he needed to plead guilty is testament to the quality of the investigation and the evidence that we were able to gather.

"This is what the network is here to do. We are here to stop terrorists in their tracks."

Converted to Islam in prison

Previously, the court heard how UK-born Little converted to Islam at Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution in Kent and at HMP Deerbolt in County Durham, after he turned 18.

Last summer, he downloaded extremist propaganda including copies of the al-Qaida publication Inspire.

The defendant, of Pelham Street, Brighton, told of his desire to get hold of a Mac-10 submachine gun and AK-47 assault rifle in encrypted chats on the Threema messaging platform.

Prosecutor Duncan Penny KC had said Little planned to kill the Christian preacher Hatun Tash at Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park, anyone with her, as well as an police officers or soldiers in the area.

Last September 17, Little claimed that he "100%" had a "brother in prison" who would be joining in the "operation".

He said he would travel to London for reconnaissance and see if it was best to "have us hit separate targets".

On September 18 last year, Little identified the Queen's funeral - due to be held at Westminster Abbey the following day - as a possible alternative target.

Previously, Little had been convicted of 14 offences in seven separate cases, including for robbery, having a knife and drug dealing, dating back to 2017.

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