A MAN described as being at the heart of a ‘network of radicalised’ terrorists in Blackburn has been jailed for five years.

Ishaq Kanmi, who posed as the head of al-Qaeda in the UK, called for the deaths of Gordon Brown and Tony Blair in internet forums.

Counter terrorism officers were first alerted to Kanmi when he began to place hate-filled postings on the internet from a computer he used as a customer of Blackburn Central Library.

He contributed to a number of pro-Jihadist sites, posting increasingly hostile messages calling for targeted murders and large attacks.

Officers began a surveillance operation and Kanmi was repeatedly observed going into Blackburn library and posting messages on the internet.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Porter said: “What Kanmi did was just as relevant to the terrorist cause as someone who plans and takes part in attacks.

“Organisations like al-Qaeda need people who encourage terrorists just as much as they need suicide bombers.

“At the time of his arrest, Kanmi was at the heart of a network of radicalised young men who intended to support or promote terrorism against the West.

“For a period of at least one year up to August 2008 when he was arrested, Kanmi had devoted himself to stirring up terrorism. “ But at court his lawyer said that Kanmi was a ‘lonely’ figure.

Joel Bennathan QC, defending, said his client was a man who had been constantly bullied at school and had no friends.

He said: “He wallowed in the sort of jihadi material he found and committed the offences he has pleaded guilty to.

“The defendant was a lonely young man sitting in the Blackburn public library.”

Kanmi, 24, of Cromwell Street, Audley, Blackburn, pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to a total of seven terrorism offences.

They included professing to belong to al-Qaeda, inviting support for the terror group, collection or making a record of information useful to a terrorist and four offences of dissemination of terrorist publications.

He has already served almost two years on remand in prison and could be assessed for release within months.

While officers investigated, Kanmi was seen associating with a number of other young men, including brothers Abbas and Ilyas Iqbal, who were convicted of terrorism offences.

Kanmi was arrested on August 14, 2008, at Manchester Airport as he attempted to catch a flight to Finland with Abbas Iqbal. They intended to travel to Scandinavia to start radicalising the small Muslim population in Finland, police said.

Officers found three memory sticks in Kanmi's suitcase which were found to contain more pro-Jihadist material.

When officer went to Kanmi's house in Cromwell Street they examined his home computer and found a range of websites that included footage demonstrating how to make suicide vests, the care of firearms and the manufacture of ricin.

As part of the investigation officers also travelled to Finland, India and North America and their inquiries led them to arrest a fourth man, Krena Lusha from Derby, who was caught downloading information on how to make explosives and suicide belts and has subsequently been jailed.

In March both Iqbal brothers were convicted of a number of terrorism offences after a four-week trial at Manchester Crown Court.