A student nurse was accused with plotting to attack an air force base and bringing a homemade bomb to a hospital maternity unit where he worked when he made an appearance in a British court on Friday.
Mohammad Farooq, 27, was apprehended on January 20 in Leeds, northern England, outside St. James’s University Hospital with what the prosecution claims was a “viable” pressure-cooker bomb weighing 13.7 kilograms (30 pounds) of manufactured low-explosive material.
Farooq allegedly conducted “hostile reconnaissance” of a Royal Air Force facility in northern England earlier this month after being urged online to attack it, according to the prosecution.
He is accused with one count of conspiring to prepare a terrorist act in relation to the air base plan, which the prosecution claims was inspired by Islamic extremism.
As a result of the hospital incident, Farooq is also accused of carrying an explosive chemical and a replica handgun. According to the prosecution, Farooq was acting out of resentment toward another employee.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Farooq made a video connection appearance. He was told to remain in custody until his next court appearance on February 3 at London’s Central Criminal Court without being asked to make a plea.
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