Brusthom Ziamani, 19, guilty of plotting to behead solider

British-born Brusthom Ziamani rejected his Christian upbringing and embraced Islam. Isolated from his family, he fell in with a banned Islamist group in east London. The seeds of a plot to murder British soldiers were sewn; the template was the brutal killing of fusilier Lee Rigby.

Despite contact with security services the 19-year-old refused three chances of going through 'de-radicalisation' programmes.

• Read more: The lone wolf and the low-tech threat of Islamic State

He had researched army bases and posted comments on social media saying he was prepared to die for Allah. He was carrying a 12 inch knife and an Islamist flag when he was arrested. Today he was convicted of preparing an act of terrorism.

ITV News Correspondent Juliet Bremner reports:

ITV News has obtained video of Brusthom Ziamani at a demonstration shortly before he became radicalised.

• Read more: The lone wolf and the low-tech threat of Islamic State

Ziamani, 19, has been found guilty at the Old Bailey of plotting to behead a British soldier after being inspired by the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby.

Work by counter terror officers probably stopped an 'horrific' attack in London Counter Terrorism Command said after Brusthom Ziamani, 19, was found guilty of plotting to behead a British soldier after being inspired by the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby.

Brusthom Ziamani, 19, was convicted of preparing an act of terrorism on or before 20th August last year.

During his trial the court heard Ziamani had fallen in with the Muslim group al-Muhajiroun, or ALM, who gave him money, clothes and a place to stay after he was kicked out of his home in Camberwell, south London.

He attended their talks in the basement of a halal sweet shop in Whitechapel and bought a black flag to take on their demonstrations, saying "I'm going to rock it everywhere I go in the Kaffirs' face".

After just months he posted comments on Facebook that he was "willing to die in the cause of Allah" and saying: "Sharia law on its way on our streets. We will implement it, it's part of our religion."

At the time he was first arrested last June on an unrelated matter, police found a ripped-up letter in his jeans pocket in which he wrote about mounting an attack on a British soldier and expressed the desire to die a martyr.

The judge adjourned sentencing to March 20 in order to consider all aspects of the case before deciding on Ziamani's jail term.

A south London teenager who wanted to replicate the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby has been found guilty of preparing an act of terrorism.

Brusthom Ziamani, 19, was arrested as he wandered the streets with a rucksack containing a large hammer, a 12-inch knife and an Islamic flag.

A teenager told his girlfriend that he was planning to carry out a terrorist attack by murdering a "soldier or member of government', a court heard.

Brusthom Ziamani, 19, allegedly came to his girlfriend's home with a hammer and knife wrapped in a black Islamic flag in his bag, she told the Old Bailey.

"I asked why he had these and he said 'me and the brothers are planning a terrorist attack'. I said what, like a bomb or something and he said 'no, a soldier or a member of government.'"

She also said that Ziamani had shown her videos of people being killed in Syria and had tried to convince her to convert to Islam.

The girlfriend also claimed that the defendant once told her "I will wipe you out" during a row.

Ziamani, of Camberwell, London, denies a charge of preparing an act of terrorism on or before August 20 last year.

Terror suspect Brusthom Ziamani, 19, met with anti-radicalisation Prevent Engagement Officers last July after police became concerned.

The court heard how Ziamani was arrested in June 2014 and had allegedly told police that he looked up to radical preachers including Abu Hamza and Anjem Choudary.

He denied that he was planning an attack and was later released on bail.