Student nurse ‘found with bomb’ outside Leeds hospital ‘plot of terrorist attack on RAF base’

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The court heard that a student nurse found in possession of a pressure bomb outside the maternity ward of Leeds Hospital had been “planning a terrorist attack at an RAF base”.

Muhammad Farooq, 27, was allegedly inspired by radical Islam when he conducted a “hostile reconnaissance” of the military base in Yorkshire in January.

He is said to have made a viable bomb made from a pressure cooker, 13.7 kg of homemade low explosive mixture and a length of pyrotechnic fuse.

Prosecutors say he chose the target because of online encouragement to stage a “lone wolf” attack at the site.

Farooq is said to have told a man that he “felt like killing everyone” before showing him a gun, then telling police officers he had a bomb.

There is no demand for bail

It is alleged that his actions at St James’s Hospital were not motivated by terror but rather by a grudge against another staff member.

Farouk was arrested outside hospital in Leeds last Friday, when he was due to work a shift. It was alleged that he was in possession of an explosive device and an imitation firearm – a Gediz 9mm PAK semi-automatic pistol.

Farooq, from Leeds, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday from a police station in Bradford, wearing a gray tracksuit.

He did not plead charges of involvement in conduct preparing for a terrorist act, possession of an imitation firearm, and possession of an explosive material with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property.

There was no application for bail and he was suspended by Paul Goldspring, the Chief Magistrate, pending investigation ahead of his next appearance at the Old Bailey next Friday.

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