A key associate of British Al-Qaeda leader Dhiren Barot, Abdul Aziz Jalil, is set to be released despite concerns of potential future offenses. The Justice Secretary intervened in a final attempt to prevent Jalil’s release after the Parole Board approved it. Jalil, who was sentenced to 26 years in 2007 for his involvement in an Al-Qaeda cell assisting Barot in planning bomb attacks in New York and London, will now be freed after serving 19 years.
Recent records show that Jalil had been freed twice before but was last recalled in March last year for violating his release terms by searching online for “weapons and drones” and accessing a Reddit forum. Despite these actions, HHJ Jeremy Roberts KC of the Parole Board defended the decision, stating that Jalil’s interest in military publications did not indicate a terrorist intent.
While acknowledging concerns about Jalil’s potential reoffending, HHJ Roberts KC upheld the Parole Board’s decision, emphasizing that the panel’s judgment was sound. Jalil will now be released under strict counter-terror monitoring. He was part of a group of seven individuals, including Mohammed Naveed Bhatti, Junade Feroze, Zia Ul Haq, Nadeem Tarmohamed, Omar Abdur Rehman, and Qaisar Shaffi, who were all jailed in 2007 for their roles in planning terrorist activities.
The group’s plans included setting off a “dirty bomb” and detonating explosives in limos under prominent buildings in London. Barot, the mastermind behind the plots, was sentenced to life in prison in 2006 for his involvement in terrorist activities. Despite recommendations for a 40-year minimum sentence, his term was reduced to 30 years on appeal.
Barot, who was considered a senior member of Osama bin Laden’s network in Britain, had a history of militant affiliations and was involved in planning attacks on financial institutions in the US. Born to a Hindu family, he converted to Islam and trained with militant groups in Afghanistan before engaging in terrorist activities. Barot’s actions were linked to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a key figure in the 9/11 attacks, according to the official US 9/11 Commission report.
Jalil, a trusted aide of Barot, had played a significant role in supporting and aiding the terrorist activities planned by the group. Despite the concerns raised, the decision to release Jalil has been upheld, with strict monitoring measures in place to prevent any further terrorist involvement.
