A fanatic who planned to incite a race war by attacking an English Defence League gathering has been approved for release despite opposition from David Lammy. Mohammed Hasseen, along with five other Muslim men, schemed to detonate homemade bombs and assault far-right EDL marchers, but their plan was thwarted when they arrived after the event had ended. Hasseen was previously sentenced to over 23 years in prison for terrorism-related crimes.
Despite objections from the Secretary of State for Justice and David Lammy MP, Hasseen has been deemed suitable for release. While concerns were raised about his past remarks to a prison officer, the Parole Board decision to free him was upheld. The judge acknowledged the severity of Hasseen’s actions, emphasizing the potential for mass fatalities if he were to reoffend.
During their trial, it was revealed that Hasseen and his accomplices were deeply immersed in extremist ideology, collecting thousands of pieces of Islamic extremist material. Their goal was to instigate a cycle of retaliatory violence. The judge noted that even though their initial attack failed, it was clear they harbored intentions of committing further atrocities.
The group, except for Hasseen, traveled to Dewsbury in 2012 armed with weapons such as shotguns, swords, and explosives, intending to target the EDL rally. However, the rally ended earlier than anticipated, and the attackers missed their opportunity. Instead of carrying out their plan, they returned to Birmingham after a stop for food. It was only later that authorities discovered their arsenal in a vehicle abandoned at a car pound.
