Bury man planned terror attack using a drone, court told

Castle Armoury Barracks in Bury had allegedly been identified as a possible target.

Author: Tom DambachPublished 10th Sep 2019

An Islamic State fan plotted a "lone wolf" attack on the British army or police using a specially adapted drone, a court has heard.

Hisham Muhammad, 25, amassed a stash of weapons including axes, a tomahawk, a machete and bear-claws before his arrest last June, the Old Bailey was told.

The defendant, who moved to Britain in 2013, designed prototype components to enable a drone to drop a harmful device, jurors heard.

Bermudan Muhammad had allegedly identified Castle Armoury Barracks in Bury, Greater Manchester, as a possible target.

His landlord alerted police after finding "suspicious" items at the defendant's home including knives, a tub of wires and a soldering iron, the court heard.

When officers searched the property, they uncovered lollipop sticks attached to an electrical component with black tape and various wires, jurors heard.

Some of the components allegedly matched sketches and detailed notes for building a drone to drop a device.

Officers also seized two painted eggs containing crushed chilli seeds and shards of glass described as Japanese "ninja eggs".

Prosecutor Anne Whyte QC said Muhammad shared the same extremist views as Islamic State.

By the summer of 2018, he had allegedly decided to commit a "lone wolf attack" in the United Kingdom.

Ms Whyte told jurors: "He had researched how small drones might be adapted to drop some sort of device designed to harm others.

"He had also obtained a variety of weapons and researched how to use knives to lethal effect. He had purchased blade sharpening implements and had used them.

"He had also researched military locations and police equipment. As you will hear, on 23 May 2018, his research included expressing false interest in joining the British army and in visiting Castle Armoury Barracks in Bury.

"By the time of his arrest, he was planning some sort of physical attack using knives and other weapons, possibly involving the armed forces or the police."

Muhammad of Victoria Avenue, Whitefield, Bury, denies engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism.

His cousin Faisal Abu Ahmad, 24, who lived at the same address, has pleaded not guilty to failing to alert authorities of the alleged attack plan