Clinical support worker on terror charges

The man accused of plotting a terror attack at St James' Hospital kept a plan of its ward in his car and recipes for infectious diseases on his own, a court has heard.

Clinical support worker Mohammed Farooq, 28, is standing trial at Sheffield Crown Court accused of preparing acts of terrorism.

He was arrested in the grounds of St James' Hospital - where he worked - in January this year with a viable pressure cooker bomb modelled on a device used in the 2013 Boston Marathon attack.

He denies the charge, and has already admitted those of possessing an explosive substance with intent, possessing an explosive substance in suspicious circumstances, possessing a document likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, having an imitation firearm with criminal intent and possession of the same imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Farooq had a grievance against several of his former colleagues at the St James's Hospital and 'had been conducting a poison pen campaign against them,' prosecutors have told the jury, as reported by Yorkshire Live/MEN MEDIA.

In his opening statement on Monday, Jonathan Sandiford KC told the court the defendant is a 'self-radicalised, lone wolf terrorist who had made preparations to commit a murderous terrorist attack in Yorkshire.'

It was said he was preparing to detonate a viable pressure cooker bomb when he was talked out of it by patient, Nathan Newby, who was having a smoke outside. Mr Newby managed to use Farooq's phone to call the police.

On Wednesday, the court heard that it was after Farooq's arrest that officers discovered floor plans of the hospital's wards in his car. The jury was taken through a timeline by an officer and prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC.

It was said another plan of the reception area and main entrance of the hospital was found at his home.

The officer and Mr Sandiford also took juries through a document said to have been accessed by Farooq which gave guidance. It was titled: 'Definition of security...its importance to Islam.' In it, a number of chapters discussed security 'of the enemy.'

Another chapter in the document spoke about security guidelines. It said: 'To have a prevention plan minimises mistakes...you should know you will make mistakes...the only ones who don't make mistakes are the ones sat at home watching TV on their couch but mujahideens are always on the move, talking to people.

'Always plan. If this happens, this is what you will do and if you get caught this is what you will tell etc.'

In the documentation, the reader is instructed to browse anonymously and use encrypted apps. It said: 'Your mobile phone is your government spy in your pocket.'

The document also gave advice on using the reader's 'normal' life as a 'cover.' It said: 'The best cover is a natural cover. If you're a doctor, student or engineer, use your own job, your own reality or your own life as a cover.

'If you're an engineer you know your job and understand it so don't make many mistakes...Try and fit any steps of the operation under your natural cover.'

The court was told that just after 2am on November 25 last year, a note was made in Farooq's phone which featured four sets of instructions on how to make a number of infectious diseases. These included one for Anthrax, one for Saxitoxin and two for Risin.

An officer told the court that the first two were not viable, but the latter two were. She said: 'The second had more stages and was more likely to lead to a reduced yield.

The trial continues.