A teacher who plotted to recruit an army of children for an ISIS-inspired terrorist campaign ranted about the end of “Western domination” as he was jailed for life today.

Umar Ahmed Haque, 25, picked out targets including Parliament, the City, London's transport network, and Westfield in Stratford for armed attacks on innocent civilians, police, and embassy officials.

He tried to radicalise children to his cause by role-playing terrorist attacks during after-school classes at the Ripple Road mosque in Barking.

Haque had previously played ISIS propaganda videos to classes at the £3000-a-year Lantern of Knowledge Islamic School in Leyton, where he taught PE and Islamic Studies despite having no formal qualifications.

Police believe Haque may have had access to up to 250 pupils at two east London schools and the Ripple Road mosque over five years, as he became increasingly radicalised.

At the Old Bailey this afternoon, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave sentenced Haque to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years, branding him a “dangerous liar” who was able to convert his young followers by being “intelligent, articulate, and persuasive, with an easy smile – he is narcissistic and clearly enjoys the power he wields over others.”

But the judge told him: “You have violated the Koran and Islam by your actions, as well as the law of all civilised people. It is to be hoped that you will come to realise this one day.”

As he was dragged from the dock, Haque waggled his finger at police officers and shouted out: “Nine years, that’s all you have. Nine years left of Western dominance. After that, hunger and insecurity”.

Haque’s accomplice, 19-year-old , Abuthather Mamun, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the plot, after being caught on tape as Haque outlined his terrorist aspirations.

The court heard he came on to the police radar in April 2016, when he was stopped from flying to Syria via Turkey to join ISIS, and was stripped of his passport.

Angered at not being allowed to leave the country, Haque began plotting a home-grown attack, and resolved to recruit his pupils to the jihadi cause.

He identified an array of targets, including Big Ben, the Queen’s guard, the London Underground, police and army bases, courts, and journalists, and drew up a checklist of weapons that he would need.

Haque was in charge of an afterschool club at the Ripple Road mosque, where he forced pupils to role play terrorist attacks similar to those in Westminster and London Bridge.

He stationed a pupil by the door as a lookout when playing ISIS propaganda, and forced the youngsters to swear to Allah that they would not reveal the content of his classes.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC told the court an NHS psychotherapist, who is now working with nine of the affected children, believes they have been left “traumatised by the experience.

“As a result of their contact with Haque the children had spoken of their confusion and frustration surrounding Islamic State, their religion and non-Muslims”, he said.

“Although they are clear what they saw was wrong, they are left conflicted and without answers which leads them to be particularly vulnerable to grooming.

“Some speak of having flashbacks of the videos and nightmares centred around fear of death and punishment in the afterlife.”

One of the fathers said his son had confided in him about Haque’s radicalisation techniques, including watching videos of guns, knives, and “bloodbaths”.

“What my son has been exposed to at the mosque has left me feeling distressed and worried for the future of Muslim kids”, he said.

“I feel unsure of who to trust and who not to. I felt I had faith and confidence in sending my son to learn about Islam at the mosque, but little did I know he would be taught about terrorism and martyrdom. Clearly my judgment was wrong.”

Haque, from Forest Gate, was found guilty by a jury last month of two counts of preparing to commit terrorist acts. He had already admitted possessing three copies of a terrorist publication a charge of dissemination of terrorist publications

The jury found Haque not guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and were deadlocked on another count of dissemination of terrorist publications.

Co-defendant Mamun, from Barking, who was also a teacher at the Ripple Road mosque, was convicted by the jury of helping him to raise funds for the terror plot.

Haque shared his plans with confidante Mohammed Abid, 27, from Manor Park, who was found guilty of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism.

Abid was jailed today for four years and three months.

A fourth defendant, Haque's neighbour Nadeem Patel, 26, from Forest Gate, admitted possession of a prohibited weapon and was sentenced to 16 months in prison last month.

Commander Dean Haydon, who leads the Met's anti-terrorism squad, said he was "horrified" when he learned Haque had been allowed in charge of classes of children at the Lantern of Knowledge school.

"It's a fee paying school, they are paying significant amounts of money to send their children to this school and they expect them to be safe, with safeguarding measures, and taught by fully qualified teachers. In this case, they weren't", he said.

"He (Haque) had instructed the children not to say anything, they were almost paralysed with fear into not telling parents and not telling teachers. As a result, there was almost a wall of silence.

"He was preparing the children for martyrdom by making them role play terrorist acts in and around London."

Ofsted’s Deputy Chief Inspector, Matthew Coffey, said in a statement last month: “It is of deep regret that this individual was able to work within the independent school system and expose his warped ideology to children.

“Umar Haque engaged in highly sophisticated grooming of young, vulnerable children. We welcome the conviction and are fully supportive of the work taking place across Government to ensure people like Haque aren’t able to do this again."</s>Umar Haque had access to 250 children at two independent schools and a mosque over the course of five years.

2012: The administrator and self-styled teacher gets a job at the fee-paying independent Hafs Academy in Newham, east London.

It's latest Ofsted report of 2016 says it is 'inadequate' and highlights 'safeguarding' issues and a failure to complete checks on new staff.

April 2015 to January 2016: Haque works at the Lantern of Knowledge, fee-paying independent Muslim school in Leyton, east London. It is given an 'outstanding' rating by Ofsted at the time.

2016-2017: Haque is heavily involved in administration and teaching at the Ripple Road mosque in Barking where he trains children for terror attacks and swears them to secrecy. The Charity Commission is investigating.

April 11 2016: Haque is stopped at Heathrow Airport attempting to board a flight to Istanbul in Turkey. Counter-terrorism police and MI5 investigate.

His phone is seized and found to contain a large number of searches for terrorist attacks and executions.

May 11 2016: Haque's passport is revoked under royal prerogative to prevent him travelling abroad.

January 24 2017: He is stopped by police for driving with no insurance.

March 26 2017: The first evidence arises where Haque, in conversation with Muhammad Abid, boasts about radicalising 16 children. The bugged evidence also reveals he is inspired by the Westminster Bridge attack.

May 17 2017: All four defendants are arrested and charged a few days later.

June 2017: The Department for Education orders an emergency Ofsted inspection which finds the Lantern of Knowledge 'does not meet all of the independent school standards'.

August 3 2017: Haque is found guilty of the driving offence and disqualified from driving.

November 21 2017: Haque is further charged with attempting to radicalised children.

January-February 2018: Haque and his alleged helpers go on trial at the Old Bailey on a raft of terrorism charges.</s>An Islamic State fanatic who taught at mosques and schools and left hundreds of young boys traumatised after trying to recruit them into a 'death squad' was today jailed for at least 25 years.

Umar Haque, 25, attempted to raise an 'army of children' by brainwashing them with extreme ISIS videos and making them re-enact knife attacks on police during role play exercises.

While grooming them he was preparing to carry out an attack in the capital himself after being inspired by the Westminster Bridge terror atrocity.

He had a large knife stashed in his Ford Focus when he was arrested last May.

Haque, 25, planned to use guns and a car bomb to strike 30 high-profile targets including Big Ben, the Queen's Guard and Westfield shopping centre.

He enlisted helpers at the Ripple Road mosque in Barking, East London, where he secretly brainwashed 16 children through terrorism role play and exercises.

The boys aged as young as 11 have been left 'traumatised' from being shown gory ISIS propaganda by Haque.

The defendant had also admitted playing an ISIS film to pupils at the Lantern of Knowledge fee-paying school in Leyton where he had worked, the Old Bailey heard.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said Haque wanted to do 'something big' and his ambition was 'extreme and alarming'.

The worst aspect was the deliberate and sustained grooming of children to join a 'mini militia', unbeknownst to their parents who had paid for after-school classes at the mosque.

He is a 'very real' threat to the young and old alike, the judge said, adding: 'Haque was a dangerous liar.

'He is intelligent, articulate and persuasive, with an easy smile. He is narcissistic and clearly enjoys the power he wields over others.'

The judge told Haque: 'You have violated the Koran and Islam by your actions, as well as the law of all civilised people. It is hoped you will come to realise this.'

Haque ranted about 'domination', 'hunger and insecurity' as he was sent down.

Khalid Masood murdered five people by running them over before he stabbed to death PC Keith Palmer at the gates to the Houses of Parliament last March.

Haque was helped with planning and fundraising by Abuthaher Mamun, 19, while he confided in Muhammad Abid, 27, both whom he knew from the Ripple Road Mosque.

Haque had access to 250 children while working at the mosque and two schools in east London - 110 of whom he tried to radicalise and 'prepare for martyrdom'

The court heard as many as 16 youngsters were taught every Thursday and Friday between 5pm and 7pm by Haque, with ISIS material broadcast during the last hour.

Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, read from a report which outlined the effect being exposed to the violent propaganda had on the boys.

He said: 'He played IS videos to that cohort, during these recordings he spoke to 16 children in his class.

'As a result of contact with the defendant Haque, the children spoke of their extreme frustration and confusion at their place within their religion.

'They spoke about how they knew what they saw was wrong but they were left feeling conflicted and without answers. They were left particularly vulnerable to further radicalisation.

'Some have spoken about having flashbacks and nightmares of video recordings they were shown by the defendant and the punishment they might receive in the afterlife.

'The possible negative impact in future, in his view, was their sense of self identity which had been greatly impacted by their exposure to Mr Haque and his teachings.

'How they make sense of their internal conflict created an us and them, East and West, ideology they are struggling to resolve left them traumatised.'

Haque worked at the Lantern of Knowledge Islamic school in Leyton, east London from 2015 to 2016 and worked as an administrator at the Ripple Road Mosque.

Haque warned children if they mentioned what they saw outside the mosque they would 'suffer after death' and go to hell, or their homes would burn down.

The boys were made to do push-ups as he shouted 'Allahu Akhbar' and staged role play sessions with scenarios involving weapons, a car bomb and attacks on police, Christians and Americans.

Counter-terror police and MI5 investigated Haque after he was stopped at Heathrow trying to board a flight to Istanbul in April 2016.

Mr Heywood QC added: 'Having been stopped at Heathrow the acts escalated. After his refusal of travel he returns home and it is then his extreme interest becomes more focused.'

Richard Thomas, defending Haque, said: 'The evidence was there was a flurry of activity since the Westminster attack but the evidence of behaviour after the Westminster attack was that these scenarios were about an attack in the future.'

Rajiv Menon defending Mamun said: 'He was more of a foot soldier, Mr Haque was an older brother or father figure but that soon became more insidious as it went on.

'He has abandoned and renounced those extremist views and that pernicious extreme interpretation of Islam.

'This is a genuine change of mindset. He posed no significant future danger to the public.'

Abid wrote a letter stating he wanted to represent himself and reading from notes told the judge he too was influenced by Haque.

He said: 'I do have remorse and I wish I could have done more to prevent it.

'My relationship with Umar Haque was a complicated one. I view him as a friend but I was in a difficult position.'

Abid's home and car, and Haque's car, were bugged from late March 2017, which revealed the plans. All four men were arrested on May 17 last year.

The jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for six days before returning guilty verdicts against Haque, Mamun and Abid, all of East London, on March 2.

Haque, of Forest Gate, and Mamun, of Barking, were convicted of preparation of terrorist acts between March 25 and May 18 last year.

Haque was found guilty of a further count of preparation of terrorist acts, between December 1, 2016, and May 18, 2017, for leading exercises in physical training and role play at the Ripple Road Mosque.

But the jury was unable to reach a verdict on Haque for one count of dissemination of terrorist publications, and was dismissed.

The charge alleged he showed a YouTube video featuring 'people with guns, burning passports and a beheading' at the Lantern of Knowledge Islamic School between July 2015 and February 2016.

Abid, of Newham, was found guilty of one count of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism.

Haque was found not guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm.

Haque had admitted one count of dissemination of terrorist publications and four charges of collection of information.

After the sentencing, an NSPCC spokesman said: 'Haque used his position of trust as a smokescreen to try and recruit an army of young people in his care to help him carry out the atrocities he planned.

'The methods used to try and radicalise them included fear and intimidation - a form of child abuse. But it is thanks to the bravery of those victims who spoke out about what they endured that Haque is now behind bars for a very long time.'</s>A self-styled teacher who trained an “army of children” for terrorist attacks in London has been jailed for life at the Old Bailey with a minimum of 25 years.

Islamic State (Isis) supporter Umar Haque, 25, planned to use guns and a car packed with explosives to strike 30 high-profile targets including Big Ben, the Queen’s Guard and Westfield shopping centre.

He enlisted children as young as 11 at the Ripple Road mosque in Barking, east London, where he secretly groomed them through terrorism role-play and exercises.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave told Haque: “You have violated the Koran and Islam by your actions, as well as the law of all civilised people. It is hoped you will come to realise this.”

He added Haque was: “Intelligent, articulate and persuasive, with an easy smile. He is narcissistic and clearly enjoys the power he wields over others.”

Haque also played gory Isis propaganda to pupils at the fee-paying independent Muslim school, the Lantern of Knowledge in Leyton, where he taught Islamic studies and physical education between April 2015 and January 2016, a court heard. Even though he had no teaching qualifications, Haque had access to 250 youngsters at two east London schools and the Ripple Road madrassa over five years and attempted to radicalise 110 of them, police said.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Haque was found guilty of planning terror attacks with the help of two conspirators.

On Haque’s “ambitious” plans, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said: “His aim was to create an army of children to assist with more terrorist attacks throughout London.

“It was apparent he was in the early stages of this long-term attack plan at multiple sites using multiple weapons and assisted by children he had radicalised.

“He tried to prepare the children for martyrdom by making them role play attacks. Part of that role play was re-enacting attacking police officers.

“He is a really dangerous individual. He could have moved at any time.”

Haydon said “crucial work” was ongoing to safeguard 35 children affected by Haque’s indoctrination, which had left them “almost paralysed with fear”.

After officers broke their “wall of silence”, parents at the £3,000-a-year Lantern of Knowledge school were “horrified”.

The trial had heard how police and MI5 had been monitoring Haque since he tried to travel to Turkey in April 2016.

In taped conversations with his conspirators, he talked about being inspired by the Westminster Bridge atrocity in March last year.

Haque said: “We are here to cause terror, my brother. We are a death squad sent by Allah and his messengers to avenge my Arab brothers’ blood...”

Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC told jurors the targets for Haque’s “warped” ideology were civilian as well as police.

His handwritten hit list included the Queen’s Guard, courts, Transport for London, Shia Muslims, Westfield, City banks, Heathrow, Parliament, Big Ben, the media, embassies and the English Defence League or Britain First.

In the months before his arrest, he bragged about recruiting 16 children, telling Ripple Road youngsters he intended to die a martyr and that Isis was “good”.

One of the youngsters later told police: “Umar has been teaching us how to fight, do push-ups, given strength and within six years he was planning to do a big attack on London.

“He wants a group of 300 men. He’s training us now so by the time I’m in Year 10 (aged 14-15) we will be physically strong enough to fight.”

Fundraiser Abuthaher Mamun, 19, and confidant Muhammad Abid, 27, were convicted of helping Haque.

Abid, a qualified cupping therapist, was handed four years and three months in prison for failing to report the plot. Mamun, who was said to have “renounced” Haque’s extremist view of Islam, was jailed for 12 years with a further year on extended licence.</s>LONDON: A British supporter of Islamic State was found guilty on Friday of trying to recruit children he was teaching into an "army" of jihadists to help carry out a wave of attacks across London.

Umar Haque, 25, showed the children beheading videos and other violent militant propaganda, forced them to re-enact deadly attacks on the British capital and made them role-play attacking police officers.

"His plan was to create an army of children to assist with multiple terrorist attacks throughout London," said Dean Haydon, head of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command.

"He tried and he did, we believe, radicalise vulnerable children from the ages of 11 to 14."

Despite having no qualifications and being employed as an administrator, police say Haque used the guise of teaching Islamic studies to groom 110 children into becoming militants at the Lantern of Knowledge, a small private Islamic school, and at a madrassa connected to the Ripple Road Mosque in east London.

Of those children, 35 are now undergoing long-term safeguarding measures involving social services and other authorities.

Six of the group gave evidence at Haque's trial, detailing how he taught them fighting was good and had given them training such as doing push-ups to build their strength.

His intention was to use them to attack London targets such as the Big Ben tower, soldiers from the Queen's Guards, a large shopping centre, banks, and media stations, prosecutors said.

Believed to have been self-radicalised online, Haque was inspired by an attack in March last year when Khalid Masood ploughed a rented car into pedestrians on London's Westminster Bridge, killing four, before stabbing to death a police officer in the grounds of parliament.

He had discussed with Abuthaher Mamun - a 19-year-old who also taught at the mosque - carrying out a similar attack using guns and a hire car packed with explosives.

He had made the children re-enact Masood's assault and told another co-defendant the public deserved to be annihilated.

"He tried to prepare the children for martyrdom by making them role-play terrorist attacks.Part of that role-playing was re-enacting attacking police officers," Haydon said.

"He had shown them graphic terrorist videos - beheading videos and frightening terrorist activities overseas.He described himself as a loyal follower to IS."

Haydon said the children had been "paralysed by fear" into not telling their parents or teachers, with Haque saying he was part of IS and threatening that they would suffer the same fate as those in the militant videos he showed them.

However, Haque's "ambitious", long-term plans were in an early stage, he said.

No issues had been raised at the school - rated outstanding by government inspectors - prior to Haque's arrest and when it came to light what was going on, police initially met a wall of silence from the children.

"He shouldn't have been teaching, so that's a concern," Haydon said.

"We have had challenges with both the local community and some of these institutions." Haque was found guilty at London's Old Bailey Court of a number of offences including preparing terrorist acts, having previously pleaded guilty to four charges.

Mamun, who police said was involved in fundraising and attack planning, and Muhammad Abid, 27, were also convicted of helping him.

They will all be sentenced at a later date.</s>Even though he had no teaching qualifications, Haque had access to 250 youngsters at two east London schools and the Ripple Road madrassa over five years and attempted to radicalise 110 of them, police said.

He also played ISIS propaganda to pupils at the fee-paying independent Muslim school Lantern of Knowledge in Leyton, where he taught Islamic studies and PE between April 2015 and January 2016.

The fanatic had a hit list of 30 high profile targets he planned to attack using guns and a car packed with explosives.

Umar Hague, 25, enlisted helpers at the Ripple Road mosque in Barking, east London, where he secretly groomed children as young as 11 through terrorism role play and exercises.

'30,000 people in Europe may be in terrorist networks' - Europol boss

Following a trial, Haque was found guilty of planning terror attacks with help from two conspirators.

Today at the Old Bailey he was jailed for life, with a 25-year minimum term.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said Haque wanted to do "something big" and his ambition was "extreme and alarming".

The worst aspect was the deliberate and sustained grooming of children to join a "mini militia" unbeknown to their parents who had paid for after school classes at the mosque.

He said: ”Haque was a dangerous liar. He is intelligent, articulate and persuasive with an easy smile. He is narcissistic and clearly enjoys the power he wields over others."

The judge told Haque: "You have violated the Koran and Islam by your actions as well as the law of all civilised people. It is hoped you will come to realise this."

On Haque's "ambitious" plans, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said: "His aim was to create an army of children to assist with more terrorist attacks throughout London.

"It was apparent he was in the early stages of this long-term attack plan at multiple sites using multiple weapons and assisted by children he had radicalised.

"He tried to prepare the children for martyrdom by making them role play attacks. Part of that role play was re-enacting attacking police officers.

"He is a really dangerous individual. He could have moved at any time."</s>Share this article with Google Plus

A terrorist who groomed an ‘army of children’ for jihadi style attacks in London has been jailed for life.

Islamic State fanatic Umar Haque, 25, planned to use guns and a car packed with explosives to strike 30 high-profile targets including Big Ben, the Queen’s Guard and Westfield shopping centre.

He secretly groomed children as young as 11 through terrorism role play and exercises at the Ripple Road mosque in Barking, east London.

Haque also played Isis propaganda to pupils at the fee-paying independent Muslim school Lantern of Knowledge in Leyton, where he taught Islamic studies and PE between April 2015 and January 2016, a court heard.

Even though he had no teaching qualifications, Haque had access to 250 youngsters at two east London schools and the Ripple Road madrassa over five years and attempted to radicalise 110 of them, police said.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Haque was found guilty of planning terror attacks with help from two conspirators and will serve a minimum of 25 years.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said: ‘His aim was to create an army of children to assist with more terrorist attacks throughout London.

‘It was apparent he was in the early stages of this long-term attack plan at multiple sites using multiple weapons and assisted by children he had radicalised.

‘He tried to prepare the children for martyrdom by making them role play attacks. Part of that role play was re-enacting attacking police officers.

‘He is a really dangerous individual. He could have moved at any time.’

The trial had heard how police and MI5 had been on to Haque since he tried to travel to Turkey in April 2016.

In bugged conversations with his conspirators, he talked about being inspired by the Westminster Bridge atrocity in March last year.

Haque said: ‘We are here to cause terror, my brother. We are a death squad sent by Allah and his messengers to avenge my Arab brothers’ blood.’

His handwritten hit list included the Queen’s Guard, courts, Transport for London, Shia Muslims, Westfield, City banks, Heathrow, Parliament, Big Ben, the media, embassies and the English Defence League or Britain First.

In the months before his arrest, he bragged about recruiting 16 children, telling Ripple Road youngsters he intended to die a martyr and Isis was ‘good’.

One of the youngsters later told police: ‘Umar has been teaching us how to fight, do push-ups, given strength and within six years he was planning to do a big attack on London.

‘He wants a group of 300 men. He’s training us now so by the time I’m in Year 10 (aged 14-15) we will be physically strong enough to fight.’

Fundraiser Abuthaher Mamun, 19, and confidant Muhammad Abid, 27, were convicted of helping Haque.</s>A man who trained children as young as 11 for terrorist attacks has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years.

Self-styled teacher Umar Haque, 25, was planning to use guns and a car packed with explosives to hit 30 high-profile targets including Big Ben, Heathrow Airport and the Queen's Guard.

Some of the youngsters had been "almost paralysed with fear", police said, adding that Haque was a "really dangerous individual" who could have "moved at any time".

Nine youngsters aged between 11 and 13 - assessed by a specialist social worker - suffered "flashbacks" and "nightmares".

Sentencing Haque at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave described him as "narcissistic" and a "dangerous liar", adding that he "clearly enjoys the power he wields over others".

Haque was planning to hit "multiple sites using multiple weapons".

Despite having no teaching qualifications, he had access to 250 youngsters at two east London schools and a madrassa over the course of five years.

He tried to radicalise 110 of them, police said.

The Islamic State supporter trained youngsters by role playing attacks at Ripple Road mosque in Barking, east London.

"Part of that role play was re-enacting attacking police officers," Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said.

Haque also played IS propaganda to pupils at a fee-paying Muslim school - Lantern of Knowledge in Leyton, where he taught Islamic studies and PE between April 2015 and January 2016.

Parents at the school were said to be "horrified" when they found out.

Police and MI5 were on to Haque after he tried to travel to Turkey in April 2016.

In bugged conversations with two conspirators, he spoke about being inspired by the Westminster Bridge attack in March last year.

His aim was create an "army of children" to help carry out terrorist attacks in London, Mr Haydon said.

He added: "It was apparent he was in the early stages of this long-term attack plan at multiple sites using multiple weapons and assisted by children he had radicalised."

One of the youngsters told police: "Umar has been teaching us how to fight, do push-ups, given strength and within six years he was planning to do a big attack on London."

After a trial at the Old Bailey, Haque was found guilty of planning terror attacks with help from the two conspirators - fundraiser Abuthaher Mamun, 19, and confidant Muhammad Abid, 27, who were convicted of helping him.

Mamun, who is said to have "renounced" Haque's extremist view of Islam, was jailed for 12 years with a further year on extended licence.

Abid was given four years and three months in prison for failing to report the plot.

Haque ranted about "domination", hunger and insecurity" as he was sent down.</s>LONDON (Reuters) - A British supporter of Islamic State who tried to recruit over 100 children into an “army” of jihadists to carry out a wave of attacks across London was jailed for a minimum of 25 years, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

Umar Haque, 25, showed the children beheading videos and other violent militant propaganda, forced them to re-enact deadly attacks on the British capital and made them role-play attacking police officers.

“His plan was to create an army of children to assist with multiple terrorist attacks throughout London,” said Dean Haydon, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command. “He tried and he did, we believe, radicalize vulnerable children from the ages of 11 to 14.”

Despite having no qualifications and being employed as an administrator, police say Haque used the guise of teaching Islamic studies to groom 110 children into becoming militants at the Lantern of Knowledge, a small private Islamic school, and at a madrassa connected to the Ripple Road Mosque in east London.

His intention was to use them to attack London targets such as Big Ben, soldiers from the Queen’s Guards, a large shopping center, banks, and media stations, prosecutors said at his trial.

Believed to have been self-radicalized online, Haque was inspired by an attack in March last year when Khalid Masood ploughed a rented car into pedestrians on London’s Westminster Bridge, killing four, before stabbing to death a police officer in the grounds of parliament.

Haque was found guilty at London’s Old Bailey Court earlier this month of several offences including preparing terrorist acts, having previously pleaded guilty to four charges.</s>A self-styled teacher who trained an “army of children” for terrorist attacks in London will be sentenced later.

Islamic State (IS) fanatic Umar Haque, 25, planned to use guns and a car packed with explosives to strike 30 high-profile targets including Big Ben, the Queen’s Guard and Westfield shopping centre.

He enlisted helpers at the Ripple Road mosque in Barking, east London, where he secretly groomed children as young as 11 through terrorism role play and exercises.

Haque also played IS propaganda to pupils at the fee-paying independent Muslim school Lantern of Knowledge in Leyton, where he taught Islamic studies and PE between April 2015 and January 2016, a court heard.

Even though he had no teaching qualifications, Haque had access to 250 youngsters at two east London schools and the Ripple Road madrassa over five years and attempted to radicalise 110 of them, police said.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Haque was found guilty of planning terror attacks with help from two conspirators.

On Haque’s “ambitious” plans, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said: “His aim was to create an army of children to assist with more terrorist attacks throughout London.

“It was apparent he was in the early stages of this long-term attack plan at multiple sites using multiple weapons and assisted by children he had radicalised.

“He tried to prepare the children for martyrdom by making them role play attacks. Part of that role play was re-enacting attacking police officers.

“He is a really dangerous individual. He could have moved at any time.”

Mr Haydon said “crucial work” was ongoing to safeguard 35 children affected by Haque’s indoctrination, which had left them “almost paralysed with fear”.

After officers broke their “wall of silence”, parents at the £3,000-a-year Lantern of Knowledge school were “horrified”.

The trial had heard how police and MI5 had been on to Haque since he tried to travel to Turkey in April 2016.

In bugged conversations with his conspirators, he talked about being inspired by the Westminster Bridge atrocity in March last year.

Haque said: “We are here to cause terror, my brother. We are a death squad sent by Allah and his messengers to avenge my Arab brothers’ blood …”

Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC told jurors the targets for Haque’s “warped” ideology were civilian as well as police.

His handwritten hit list included the Queen’s Guard, courts, Transport for London, Shia Muslims, Westfield, City banks, Heathrow, Parliament, Big Ben, the media, embassies and the English Defence League or Britain First.

In the months before his arrest, he bragged about recruiting 16 children, telling Ripple Road youngsters he intended to die a martyr and IS was “good”.

One of the youngsters later told police: “Umar has been teaching us how to fight, do push-ups, given strength and within six years he was planning to do a big attack on London.

“He wants a group of 300 men. He’s training us now so by the time I’m in Year 10 (aged 14-15) we will be physically strong enough to fight.”

Fundraiser Abuthaher Mamun, 19, and confidant Muhammad Abid, 27, were convicted of helping Haque.

The defendants will be sentenced by Mr Justice Haddon-Cave at the Old Bailey later.
Old Bailey Justice Charles Haddon-Cave sentences convicted terrorist Umar Haque, who indoctrinated children he was teaching in London so that he could use them to commit attacks, to lifetime incarceration with parole eligibility only after 25 years.