Blackburn brothers guilty of terror offences (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Blackburn brothers guilty of terror offences
7:00pm Friday 19th March 2010 in Blackburn
By Neil Docking, Reporter
CONVICTED: Abbas Iqbal
TWO Blackburn brothers who called themselves the Blackburn Resistance have been found guilty of terrorism offences.
But the judge who jailed Abbas and Ilyas Iqbal for a total of four years and six months said the prosecution case had been overstated, and told them: 'I doubt you would have amounted to much'.
Judge Andrew Gilbart said ringleader Abbas’ downfall and ‘great weakness’ may have been vanity as he ‘looked like he was getting ready to carry out an attack’.
A third defendant, Muhammad Ali Ahmad, 26, of Whalley Range, was found not guilty of preparation for acts of terrorism.
Outside court, he demanded an inquiry into the case, claiming the prosecution was motivated by Islamaphobia. Judge Gilbart said it was shocking Ahmad had spent 387 days in custody ‘for doing absolutely nothing’.
After the case police said the convictions of the Iqbal brothers had ‘vindicated’ their investigation.
Abbas Iqbal, 24, was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of two offences.
The dissemination of terrorist publications charge was linked to pictures, audio clips and videos found on his mobile phone at Manchester Airport in August 2008.
Preparation for acts of terrorism included training and stockpiling weapons at his home in Percival Street.
Ilyas Iqbal, 23, also of Percival Street, was sentenced to 18 months for possession of a publication likely to be useful for terrorists, a blue ring binder containing his notes about weapons and military tactics.
Sentencing Abbas at Manchester Crown Court, Judge Andrew Gilbart, said: "The terrorism of which we are dealing here is not terrorism directed at civilians in this country.
"The prosecution case was that you wanted to give support to the suffering of the governments of Iraq and Afghanistan and perhaps assist the Palestinian resistance in the occupied territories of that unhappy region."
The judge said that ‘much of the prosecution case was overstated’ and that he did not consider the actions of the duo in Corporation Park, in which they filmed themselves in combat gear, as preparing for terrorism.
But addressing Abbas he said: "I did find that you wanted to make yourself experienced in the use of weapons.
"Your level of skill and knowledge was at the low end of the scale.
"You fancied yourself as a fighter for the cause but truth be told you were a pretty low grade one and I doubt that you would have amounted to much.
"You are committed to the return of these countries to what you see is the true path and believe that it can be properly achieved by the use of terrorism."
Judge Gilbart said Abbas had used the footage of his brother and Mr Ahmad engaging in ‘a bit of innocent fooling about in the park’ and presented it as ‘much more serious’ and that it was ‘not surprising’ the police had treated it as ‘the activities of a terrorist cell’.
Addressing Ilyas, he said he did not believe the evidence showed he was preparing for acts of terrorism, for which he was cleared.
But referring to the binder he said: "You do have a genuine interest in weapons, military warfare and history and your skill in that area did make it useful."
Abbas, who had served 447 days in custody, is likely to serve another three to four months in jail.
Ilyas, who had also spent 447 days in custody, walked free from court. He declined to comment as he left court.
John Burton, defending Abbas, said the material on his client's phone was a case of ‘the element of recklessness more than intent’ and, along with his preparation, was ‘at the very low end of the scale’.
However, Judge Gilbart said that while there was no evidence Abbas was preparing for a specific attack, ‘It looked like he was getting himself ready so he could one day do it.’ The judge said: "It may be that his greatest sin, his greatest weakness, is actually his vanity."
Roderick Price, defending Ilyas, said his client's offences were also at ‘the low end of the scale’ and the judge admitted he would have ‘difficulty’ sentencing him.
However, Judge Gilbart criticised prosecutors and police for the way that Mr Ahmad had been treated, spending 387 days in custody and losing nearly two years of his life before he was found to be innocent.
He said: "I find it quite shocking how long he had been in there for doing absolutely nothing."
A police spokesman for the North West Counter Terrorism Unit speaking at court said its investigations had been ‘vindicated’.
He said: "I am happy with the results that the jury came back with and I feel that the results vindicate the inquiry, which in some quarters we have been criticised for.
"I feel we have justified the efforts and energies of the staff who worked on this in the counter terrorism unit. I think any terrorism offence is serious and they need to be thoroughly investigated."
Blackburn community leader Lord Adam Patel said: "If they are guilty, they have got the right punishment.
"I am very disappointed in them and that this has happened in my home town of Blackburn. The majority of the ethnic community is working hard to build better relations and the community will be disappointed for the same reasons."
Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: "They had a fair trial as they are entitled and I think this verdict sends out a message to the public about the determination of the authorities to keep people safe.
"Overwhelmingly the Asian community was shocked by the allegations.”
Former councillor and community leader Hussain Akhtar said: "The community is shocked and we are not happy with what these boys have done.
"We try to raise good citizens in Blackburn and people feel let down.
"They come from a good family and they have let their family down as well. I hope in the future this will make people think twice."
Comments(39)
Akki
says...
12:50pm Fri 19 Mar 10
LOL.
Lancs - pensioner
says...
4:20pm Fri 19 Mar 10
tenerc
says...
5:02pm Fri 19 Mar 10
also she said we need at ask questions why they did what they did, what could she mean by that? not the same old argument surely.
rggraham1947
says...
5:05pm Fri 19 Mar 10
ExForces
says...
5:13pm Fri 19 Mar 10
rggraham1947 wrote:whilst i agree the sentances are laughable, why does everyone think that putting people in the army and sending them to the 'frontline' will sort them out? like all the scumbags doledossers and criminals we wouldnt want them in the army!
"Abbas Iqbal has been sentenced to three years in prison and Ilyas Iqbal to 18 months." These sentences are laughable; conscript them into the army and send them to Afghanistan.
a remote island in the pacific somewhere would be more apt.
social cohesian is a buzz word, that quite frankly doesnt exist. closing the borders wont solve the problem but its a bloody good start.
ste.g
says...
6:12pm Fri 19 Mar 10
those sentences are a discrace to all the time,money and effort the police etc have put into this,and for trying to make this world a safer place for us to live.
these sentences are really up there along with non payment of poll tax and failing to pay your tv license.
well done that judge.
prestonlad
says...
6:12pm Fri 19 Mar 10
The offspring
says...
6:35pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Stone Island
says...
6:48pm Fri 19 Mar 10
.
That message is: CARRY ON.
suttydog
says...
7:18pm Fri 19 Mar 10
excaliber
says...
7:44pm Fri 19 Mar 10
ExForces wrote:Send them to Helmand and get them clean up the mines that their Taliban brothers have planted all over the place. Maybe if they get their limbs blown off it will take some of the glamour out of playing at terrorists.
rggraham1947 wrote:whilst i agree the sentances are laughable, why does everyone think that putting people in the army and sending them to the 'frontline' will sort them out? like all the scumbags doledossers and criminals we wouldnt want them in the army!
"Abbas Iqbal has been sentenced to three years in prison and Ilyas Iqbal to 18 months." These sentences are laughable; conscript them into the army and send them to Afghanistan.
a remote island in the pacific somewhere would be more apt.
social cohesian is a buzz word, that quite frankly doesnt exist. closing the borders wont solve the problem but its a bloody good start.
Tosh67
says...
8:32pm Fri 19 Mar 10
ExForces wrote:ExForces - this sounds like a recent conversation i had with an exforces chap in the local recently, i am ex-rn and like i said during the chat,just like the meerkat says - simples, the problems start when the lunatics from government and justice/lawyers get involved.
rggraham1947 wrote: "Abbas Iqbal has been sentenced to three years in prison and Ilyas Iqbal to 18 months." These sentences are laughable; conscript them into the army and send them to Afghanistan.whilst i agree the sentances are laughable, why does everyone think that putting people in the army and sending them to the 'frontline' will sort them out? like all the scumbags doledossers and criminals we wouldnt want them in the army! a remote island in the pacific somewhere would be more apt. social cohesian is a buzz word, that quite frankly doesnt exist. closing the borders wont solve the problem but its a bloody good start.
Worse still are the seriously deranged human rights brigade.
How can this send out the right message, the tosser straw has the backbone of an amoeba just like most thieving MP's.
The right message would have been mine clearance duties in sh1tholes like iraq and afghanistan instead of our patriotic land forces.
Ex-Forces chap - you sound just like the chap i have convict water with at the local.
blackburner
says...
9:15pm Fri 19 Mar 10
while one white man who converted to islam was let off, which is laughable...........
...................
Jury in Blackburn 'terror' trial see ‘pretend terror video
Blackburn terror accused: I wanted to start new life abroad
Blackburn men 'intoxicated by terrorism'
Blackburn terror accused had 'beheading videos'
‘Attack plans’ found in raid on home of Blackburn resistance
'Gun video a bit of fun', says Blackburn terror accused
Blackburn terror suspect: I liked music on terror video
Blackburn terror suspect was to teach in mosque
VIDEO: Blackburn 'terror' trial video footage released
Blackburn terror suspect 'dressed up to be like Arnie
Blackburn terror accused are just silly kids,
ALL BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE LIKE RAMBO...
The judge stated that any attack would'nt have amounted to much,
Oh really, well thats good, only a couple of deaths from a botched bombing run rather than a few dozen
Hammurabi
says...
9:24pm Fri 19 Mar 10
tenerc wrote:I also heard the Muslim "inter-faith officer" on the radio, and she went out of her way to avoid condemning these would-be murderers, but rather to blame what the non-muslims must have done to provoke them. She made similar comments when the video tapes of Muslim children being taught to kill Jews and non-believers were made public. We should be very worried when an apologist for Islamic terror is given a prominent role in a cathedral.
the local “inter faith officer” from the cathedral, just made a fool of her self on live radio, she compared these terrorist wanna-be as “i remember going to the park and playing cowboys and RED indians” (must be P.C now) yea maybe when you where 8!! not 23 & 24. also she said we need at ask questions why they did what they did, what could she mean by that? not the same old argument surely.
Come the Revolution
says...
10:51pm Fri 19 Mar 10
retired one
says...
11:26pm Fri 19 Mar 10
The judges do not live in the real world.
l m h jones
says...
11:31pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Outside court, he demanded an inquiry into the case, claiming the prosecution was motivated by Islamaphobia. Judge Gilbart said it was shocking Ahmad had spent 387 days in custody ‘for doing absolutely nothing’. so if i fire off guns in my garden and dress in combat gear with weapons in a local park i can claim that it was just a prank? And ahmed where does islamaphobia come into this? muslim parents with tots in corporation park are just as likely to be traumatised by these prats glorifying acts of terror as anyone else in blackburn.
excaliber
says...
11:43pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Come the Revolution wrote:Dont agree. OK, this "Blackburn Resistance" are more akin to Citzen Smith than Al Qaeeda. Using a public library to download literature is hardly the hallmark of a professional terrorist.(I was there when the police seized the hard drive of that PC). The real terrorists - who are undoubtedly at large within the communities - will go out of their way not to look or act like terrorists. Its always those whom you least suspect.
The whole thing has been OTT. Waste of public money. Three silly lads who needed to grow up. Obviously very short on grey matter, but certainly not terrorists. I've no time for Islam, as most of the real terrorists in this country seem to operate under this banner. By the way, WTF is that shopkeeper doing selling all that sh*te in the first place?.
But you cant let these get away with playing such a dangerous game.
Anyone else thinking of playing at being terrorists must be made to realise that it's game that wont be tolerated.
montecassino
says...
1:46am Sat 20 Mar 10
So they have got a very lenient sentence me thinks.
chrislancs
says...
7:28am Sat 20 Mar 10
It is worrying that this type of fundementalism has crept into east lancashire, these type of terroists are control freaks hence so many girls wearing veils and bhurkas. This is one area the English democrats are clear and strong in their belief that these type of people need to be removed from our country immediately. The pc brigade have become apoligists for these terrorists. so I would encourage them to leave as well.
There are too many people in this country who dont share our values and way of life, and seem to think we should accomodate them without question. I am afraid the multicultural experiment has failed miserably I blame the pc brigade for their insistance of forcing people of different cultures together. Why they could not just leave people alone and not keep putting them in the spotlight beggars belief.
Sadly this is the result of allowing uncontrolled immigration into the country. These people poison the minds of normally reasonable educated people.
The english Democrats will change this with a little help from you.
Chris Reid PPC
English Democrats
Hyndburn/Haslingden
suttydog
says...
8:37am Sat 20 Mar 10
pez63
says...
9:16am Sat 20 Mar 10
Robbie
says...
10:48am Sat 20 Mar 10
but The uk Govenment need to pass a law which say something along the lines of. if your convicted of things like this, they can send you back to the country of orgin for your family. even if they need to go back great great gran parents.
either that or bring back the death pen for planning acts or doing acts of terroism..
I disagree with the EDL and BNP (i will never support them), but its no surprise their power and support is growing when acts like this only lead to a tap (not even a slap) on the wrist.
Finally, as a white englishmen, i hope that all muslims are not tarred with the same brush as these lot, most muslims are good people, and do not agree with what these men did.
allanwilson
says...
10:52am Sat 20 Mar 10
rggraham1947 wrote:I just wonder what would have happened if I had been walking in corporation park & had stumbled across them while they playing in the grass. Then took a photo of them on my mobile if they had seen me take the photo what do you think they would they have done. Let me walk away I don’t think so.
"Abbas Iqbal has been sentenced to three years in prison and Ilyas Iqbal to 18 months." These sentences are laughable; conscript them into the army and send them to Afghanistan.
Robbie
says...
10:53am Sat 20 Mar 10
The offspring wrote:Personally, i was thinking the same.
They are British and in my opinion they are guilty of treason,Hang em high i say.
Even if someone does not hold a British passport, if they live on British shores, they are a resident.
Any internal attack is an attack on the queen.
and this is Treason, which is a hanging offence.
IanHuddy
says...
11:31am Sat 20 Mar 10
suttydog wrote:At least take the time and effort to learn the language of the country you profess to love.
NOTICE THERE AINT ANY SO CALLED BRITISH MUSLINS ON HERE, THEY KEEPING VERY QUIETE. any body who dont like this country or how we want to live can leave nobody stopping them. or maybe go fight with there brothers in afganistan. oh but there they will be fighting proper hard men the british armed forces
chocky
says...
12:01pm Sat 20 Mar 10
dingle-berry
says...
1:38pm Sat 20 Mar 10
Lamp it!
says...
1:47pm Sat 20 Mar 10
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i don't know why some people stay in this awful country?
if people don't like the way we do things they should **** off back to a place where they fit in! i don't want to live in saudi arabia because i wouldnt be able to live my 'evil' way of life (drinking and womanising!) so i won't be moving there.
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if people don't like the way people are treated around the world get on a plane and go and help them. simples!.
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i agree with a previous post - these terrorists (or would be terrorists) should be made to search for roadside bombs and mines in war torn countries where we are trying to keep the peace or rid the indigenous people of evil, greedy and sexist tyrants.
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it makes me sick.
this once great town, which has given the country and world so much, is being ruined!
past.times01
says...
2:44pm Sat 20 Mar 10
ExForces
says...
2:54pm Sat 20 Mar 10
Robbie wrote:afraid to say our beloved jack straw changed the law (1998 i think) so that there is no offence of that warrants hanging, even treason is now just a custodial sentance.
The offspring wrote: They are British and in my opinion they are guilty of treason,Hang em high i say.Personally, i was thinking the same. Even if someone does not hold a British passport, if they live on British shores, they are a resident. Any internal attack is an attack on the queen. and this is Treason, which is a hanging offence.
Tosh67; good to see there are some of us left with sense!
BlueSkies
says...
4:13pm Sat 20 Mar 10
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How serious or capable these blokes were to carry out any terrorist threat is open to debate. They seemed to be a joke, cartoon characters. So why didn't someone have a word to tone it down? If I saw them, the local community most certainly did.
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This just begs the question, how serious is the local Muslim populace in trying to live in harmony with the local whites.
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I don't believe Muslim leaders can control/influence their young people. Mind you, is our lot any better?
l m h jones
says...
4:19pm Sat 20 Mar 10
suttydog wrote:suttydog what has a posters religion got to do with local outrage at the leniency of sentencing? how do you know what religion posters are? ps there are muslims in the british army. Why on earth do you assume that british muslims would allign themselves with the prats in the taleban in afghanistan? the topic surely is about idiots in blackburn roaming around and posing with weapons and offensive images and not being given strong deterent sentences.
NOTICE THERE AINT ANY SO CALLED BRITISH MUSLINS ON HERE, THEY KEEPING VERY QUIETE. any body who dont like this country or how we want to live can leave nobody stopping them. or maybe go fight with there brothers in afganistan. oh but there they will be fighting proper hard men the british armed forces
district01
says...
4:40pm Sat 20 Mar 10
vintageclaret
says...
5:59pm Sat 20 Mar 10
rggraham1947 wrote:No, not INTO the army! Just send them out to play being the terrorists they want to be, then they will face the army & not part of it. Next round up those who brainwashed what is obviously a bunch of no-marks, two pork sausage short of a BBQ, stop all the the funding (no bets taken it's all benefit supplied & which probably run into thousands of £s per week) thenget shut from the country, regardless of where they were born. It's time the decent people from both religions stood up to be counted and stopped behaving like the Catholics did during the Inquisition. Believing in the hell-fire and damnation pulchritude preached by people who leech on simple minds is something from the Dark Ages. Time to WAKE UP!
"Abbas Iqbal has been sentenced to three years in prison and Ilyas Iqbal to 18 months." These sentences are laughable; conscript them into the army and send them to Afghanistan.
Cool Lad
says...
9:41pm Sat 20 Mar 10
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I had to hang my head in shame as it was the most embarrassing thing for a decent young Muslim lad to see. Its funny how on one side we have these low life scum terrorists and on the other we have all the pimps and drug dealers.
'
I believe these two brothers should be forced to apologise to all the people in their neighbourhood and be deported, simple as. Is it likely they will get a decent job once they are released? Probably working in a takeaway somewhere flipping burgers. Also thanks for deleting my comments twice Neil.
Lamp it!
says...
11:05am Sun 21 Mar 10
l m h jones wrote:sadly you are misguided. why do you think people look at blackburn as an 'anti-model' of racial harmony?
suttydog wrote: NOTICE THERE AINT ANY SO CALLED BRITISH MUSLINS ON HERE, THEY KEEPING VERY QUIETE. any body who dont like this country or how we want to live can leave nobody stopping them. or maybe go fight with there brothers in afganistan. oh but there they will be fighting proper hard men the british armed forcessuttydog what has a posters religion got to do with local outrage at the leniency of sentencing? how do you know what religion posters are? ps there are muslims in the british army. Why on earth do you assume that british muslims would allign themselves with the prats in the taleban in afghanistan? the topic surely is about idiots in blackburn roaming around and posing with weapons and offensive images and not being given strong deterent sentences.
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us and them - on both sides of the street.
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there are loads of idiots roaming around blackburn commiting serious offences then getting hands slapped.
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the key to this is treason and terrorism! surely!
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you also talk about idiots roaming around the streets of blackburn with weapons and offensive images as an everyday occurance!
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it's people like you who have an excuse for everyone and everything they do - probably even the idiotic judges of the land!
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the trouble with today's society is that nobody takes responsibility for their actions. children have the power to do anything. trouble is- with power comes responsibilty and children up to the age of 18 don't have it.
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also religion, especially islam, takes over self responsibility and people relinquish this responsibilty. thatsaid, we need to take the power of these individuals
Hellboy
says...
3:18pm Mon 22 Mar 10
Cool Lad wrote:Shhh! That sounds a bit 'non-PC',mate!
Most of the so called Moslems I saw today on a visit to Blackburn were in competition with each of their mates to see who can do the most laps around Whalley range. The music was playing so loud my ears hurt as I walked past.
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I had to hang my head in shame as it was the most embarrassing thing for a decent young Muslim lad to see. Its funny how on one side we have these low life scum terrorists and on the other we have all the pimps and drug dealers.
'
I believe these two brothers should be forced to apologise to all the people in their neighbourhood and be deported, simple as. Is it likely they will get a decent job once they are released? Probably working in a takeaway somewhere flipping burgers. Also thanks for deleting my comments twice Neil.
the 'Thought-Police' are tuning in as we speak!
The LET is more than geared up to the 'Thought-Police'...t
hat's why most anti-muslim comments are erased...
Bring on the election...Hopefully
,the majority of psycho's like these will find themselves in their native lands...with their thumbs stuck up their ar*es wondering how they are going to survive without Benefits...
phoebesgrandad says...
12:17pm Fri 19 Mar 10