Arndale Terror Plot Man Jailed
A man who plotted to blow up Manchester's Arndale Centre has been jailed for 40 years.
A man who plotted to bomb Manchester's Arndale Centre on one of its busiest weekends has been jailed in America.
Pakistani-born Abid Naseer, 29, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after he was found guilty of planning to carry out the failed UK bombing as well as a terrorist attack on the New York Subway, a New York US attorney said.
Naseer, who was directed and commissioned by al Qaida to attack Manchester, had come to the city from Peshawar, Pakistan, on a student visa in November 2008 and was at the head of a UK-based cell. Prosecutors in New York said that the British plot had been part of a broader al Qaida conspiracy calling on other cells to attack civilians in New York and the Danish Embassy.
Whilst living in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester he had conspired to use a potential vehicle bomb to blow up the city's shopping centre on the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in 2009.
Listen: Our Chief Reporter Michelle Livesey has this special report from where the attack was planned to take place:
In a statement Robert Capers, United States Attorney, said: This al Qaida plot was intended by the group's leaders and Naseer to send a message to the United States and its allies.Today's sentence sends an even more powerful message in response: terrorists who target the US and its allies will be held accountable for their violent crimes to the full extent of the law.''
(The email that sparked the public safety arrests)
Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole said: "Today, Tuesday 24 November 2015, Abid Naseer has finally seen justice for the terrorist atrocities he planned to orchestrate against the people of Greater Manchester.
"In 2009, the North West Counter Terrorism Unit received credible intelligence that Naseer and others were just days away from carrying out a plot which would have resulted in a massive explosive device being detonated outside the Arndale Centre.
"A sentence of 40 years, we believe, is a fitting punishment for a man who came so close to carrying out what would have been one of the horrific terrorist acts seen in the UK since the 7/7 bombings.
"They planned to strike on Easter Weekend, the second busiest shopping day of the year, when between 40,000 and 90,000 people would have been in the targeted areas throughout the weekend.
"The actions of the NWCTU and our partners in the security service potentially saved the lives of hundreds of people that day, and struck a hammer blow to the heart of Al Qaeda's plans in the UK.
"Though we were unable to prosecute in this country, this investigation is a superb example of partnership working between UK agencies and our colleagues in Norway and the USA.
"It is a demonstration of outstanding international cooperation in incredibly difficult circumstances, and has been a completely successful operation, safeguarding people from harm, detaining terrorist operatives and obtaining a successful conviction.
"To combat this type of large-scale of Al Qaeda plot is exactly why the NWCTU and the CT network nationally was set up in the first place and this conviction and sentence is superb validation of the work we do every single day.
"My officers are relentless in their quest to keep the public safe, they are tenacious in their pursuit of the evidence that will allow us to track down and detain those people intent on inflicting terrible damage to the innocent people of the UK.
"Without that tenacity and dedication, this conviction would not have been possible. The evidence supplied to US investigators by the NWCTU was instrumental in obtaining this conviction and I am proud to say that we have helped to put a tremendously dangerous terrorist behind bars.
"Of course, what this case does highlight is the need for everyone in Greater Manchester - not just the police - to be vigilant and combat terrorism. And although terrorist attacks are very rare, the threat such an attack could pose to the cohesion of our communities is enormous.
"That is why tackling radicalisation both here in Manchester and from those who travel abroad and return to the UK is an absolute priority for us.
"But this is not something police officers can do alone. We need everyone in our communities - schools, teachers, local councillors, parents and friends - to help us identify those young people who are vulnerable and therefore susceptible to being radicalised. If we can identify those at risk before their behaviour escalates into extremist views or a misguided desire to carry out an act of terrorism, then we can safeguard those individuals and try and steer them away from that lifestyle.
"I want to also stress that this is not just about Islamic fundamentalists or extremists but anyone - regardless of their background or religious persuasion - who shows signs of extremist or dangerous behaviour.
"That is why we all need to stand together to combat terrorism and report any suspicious behaviour immediately before it is too late." Anyone with information is urged to contact the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.