The Bristol Bomber uncovered: new podcast tells his story

The story behind the failed 'Bristol Bomber' is featuring in a new counter-terrorism campaign.

Andrew 'Isa' Ibrahim, from Westbury-on-Trym, was jailed in 2009 after planning an attack on the Galleries shopping centre.

But the untold tale of how the plot began has been largely unheard - until now - and is featuring on a podcast by the National Counter Terrorism HQ.

It tells the story of the self-radicalised 19-year-old who planned to build a homemade bomb and carefully mapped out the shopping centre.

Detectives, bomb disposal and surveillance officers give their accounts, as well as witnesses, and even Ibrahim himself.

Isa Ibrahim during his court appearance.

In one recording a former teacher says she raised concerns about her pupil's behaviour:

Isa Ibrahim.

If you suspect any kind of suspicious activity or behaviour - anything that seems out of place, unusual or just doesn’t seem to fit in with everyday life - then the advice is to report it.

Here's some examples:

  • Anyone hiring or acquiring large vehicles or similar for no obvious reason

  • Anyone buying or storing a large amount of chemicals, fertilisers or gas cylinders for no obvious reasons

  • Anyone taking notes or photos of security arrangements, or inspecting CCTV in an unusual way

  • Anyone visiting the dark web, ordering unusual items online or carrying out unusual bank transactions

  • Anyone who has firearms or other weapons or has shown an interest in obtaining them

  • Anyone holding passports or other documents in different names, for no obvious reasons

  • Anyone who goes away traveling for long periods of time but is vague about where they’re going

Andrew practised blowing up bombs in his bedroom - using loud music to cover the sounds of the explosives.

But, after noticing burns on his hands and arms, a member of the local Islamic community reported him to an intelligence agent.

Isa Ibrahim arrives at court in 2009.

The podcast reveals how detectives pieced together the case against him - conducting detailed timing runs to the Galleries, his behaviour on the internet, and discovering a blueprint for a bomb in a notepad.

Following his arrest officers found his flat covered in high explosives.

His road, and neighbourhood were quickly evacuated, and after further searching, a bomb packed in a biscuit tin was discovered.

Police outside Isa Ibrahim's home.