Monday, June 30, 2008

"Muslim convert" charged with terrorism after leaving hoax bomb on bus

Another recent convert to Islam is caught terrorizing people in the UK. HalifaxCourier:
A 22-year-old Rotherham man who caused panic when he left a hoax bomb on a bus had developed a close interest in "radical and extremist Islamic violence", a court has been told.

Nicholas Roddis left the device, complete with wires and a clock, in a bag on a bus in the town after he boarded wearing a false beard and other disguises, Leeds Crown Court heard.

The jury was told police found items including railway detonators, articles on bomb making and extremist literature in Nicholas Roddis's lodgings.

Prosecutors said Roddis had shown work colleagues video clips of hostages in Iraq being beheaded and soldiers being caught in bomb attacks.

He had a poster on his wall of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaeda leader killed in Iraq.

Roddis, of Reedham Drive, claimed he was a Muslim convert.

He denies one charge of placing a hoax bomb on a bus, one of engaging in the preparation of acts of terrorism, six counts of possessing an article for terrorism purposes and three of collecting information useful for terrorist purposes.

This guy had everything a recent convert to Islam could possibly want: a false beard, a detonation devise, videos of beheadings, and, a poster of al-Zawahiri.

Related:
UK nail bomb attacker a "recent convert" to Islam
19-year old "recent convert" to Islam found in possession of explosive materials
Muslim teacher in UK admits threatening to blow up Europe's largest shopping center