Pair given life sentences for IS plot to kill soldiers and police in drive-by shootings

Tarik Hassane and Suhaib Majeed Credit: PA

A pair of home-grown terrorists have been given life sentences for plotting to kill soldiers, police officers and civilians in a series of Islamic State-inspired drive-by shootings.

Tarik Hassane, 22, who was the mastermind of the plot, was jailed for a minimum of 21 years after admitting terror charges midway through an Old Bailey trial.

Suhaib Majeed, also 22, will serve a minimum sentence of 20 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to murder and preparation of terrorist acts.

  • The Plot

Shepherds Bush Police Station and the Parachute Regiment TA barracks in London were scouted as potential targets. Credit: PA

  • Hassane had identified Shepherd's Bush police station and the Parachute Regiment Territorial Army Barracks at White City as possible targets on Google Street View.

  • Acting his instructions, his old school friend, physics student Suhaib Majeed, who was said to be an "essential cog" in the plot, sourced a gun and ammunition and was discussing buying an untraceable moped before police swooped to arrest him in September 2014.

  • Hassane, nicknamed The Surgeon, was studying medicine in Sudan at the time but rushed back to London to carry on as a "lone wolf terrorist" before he too was apprehended by police.

"Turnup Terror Squad"

The court heard that Majeed and Hassane were both members of an extremist online chat group called the "Turnup Terror Squad".

Majeed was said to have sent a picture of a dead fighter "laughing" to the the group. He also had a "grim" video of Jihadi John beheading a journalist on his iPad, jurors were told.

The men were members of an extremist online chat group. Credit: PA

Judge: "Shocking, tragic and deplorable"

As he delivered his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Wilkie told the pair their plan to "take up arms" against fellow British citizens was "tragic and deplorable".

Earlier, the court was told that both Hassane and Majeed had now accepted their involvement in the plot to murder.