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A teenager convicted of attempted murder after he planted a bomb on a packed Tube train at Parsons Green has been sentenced.

Ahmed Hassan Mohammed Ali was found guilty of attempted murder and using the chemical compound TATP (triacetone triperoxide) to cause an explosion likely to endanger life by a jury on March 1.

The 18-year-old, of Cavendish Road, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday (March 23) to be sentenced.

His eight-day trial went through details of how an Iraqi refugee went from being student of the year at Brooklands College in Weybridge to plotting a mass murder

The jury was shown CCTV footage of the explosion , and a 'fireball' which ripped through the packed Tube train, injuring 29 people.

We will be bringing you live updates from the court.

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'Islam is a religion of peace'

After handing down the lengthy sentence Mr Justice Haddon-Cave told Hassan, who had proclaimed himself to be very religious, said:

You should understand that the Koran is a book of peace. Islam is a religion of peace.

He added: “Islam forbids breaking the law of the land where one is living or is a guest.”

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Judge satisfied Ali trained with ISIS in Iraq

Mr Justice Haddon-Cave was satisfied Hassan had trained with ISIS in Iraq, as he told British immigration officials, and was older than he purported to be.

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'Sense of betrayal'

The judge said: “One can only imagine the sense of betrayal felt by all those at Barnardo’s and Brooklands College whom you duped.”

Read more about Ali’s time at Brooklands here.

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'Dangerous and devious individual'

The judge said the defendant was a “dangerous and devious individual” who quietly went about plotting his attack with “ruthless determination and almost military efficiency while pretending to be a model asylum seeker”.

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Minimum term of 34 years

Ahmed Hassan Mohammed Ali at his Sunbury home. Ali claims that this photo was taken as part of a college project
Ahmed Hassan Mohammed Ali at his Sunbury home. Ali claims that this photo was taken as part of a college project (Image: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)

A Sunbury teenager has been jailed for life after being found guilty of planting a bomb on a Tube train at Parsons Green, injuring 29 people.

Ahmed Hassan Mohammed Ali was convicted of attempted murder and using the chemical compound TATP (triacetone triperoxide ) to cause an explosion likely to endanger life by a jury on Thursday March 15.

The 18-year-old, of Cavendish Road, was ordered to serve a minimum of 34 years at his sentencing at the Old Bailey.

Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said to Ali:

Your intention that morning was to kill as many members of the British public as possible by planting the IED on a busy commuter Tube train.

Read more.

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Ali jailed for life

Ali has been jailed at the Old Bailey for life with a minimum term of 34 years.

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Mr Justice Haddon-Cave continued:

I am satisfied you were determined to create as much death and carnage that day as possible.

He said Hassan had “targeted” a Tube line he was familiar with and knew the train would be “crowded with passengers”.

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Sentencing begins

Sentencing Ahmed Hassan, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said:

Your intention that morning was to kill as many members of the British public as possible by planting the IED on a busy commuter Tube train.

Had his bomb fully exploded, there would have been ‘’numerous fatalities’’, he said.

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'Bad memories'

(Image: PA)

Daniel Prieto, who suffered burns to his neck and had his eyelashes singed in the blast, said he cannot bring himself to use Parsons Green station because it “brings back bad memories”, prosecutor Alison Morgan said.


He added that his life had “changed completely” and said he had to receive treatment from a psychologist “to overcome the effects of the explosion”.

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Friend feels 'nervous and scared'

Yayha Farroukh met Hassan at Brooklands College in Surrey and befriended him because they were both alone in Britain and Arabic speakers.

He helped Hassan find a foster place with Penny and Ron Jones, who were made MBEs by the Queen in 2010, because he thought it would be “nice” for him to stay with them.

But Mr Farroukh ended up being unwittingly caught up in the terror probe when the bomber told police he had gone to Dover - as he tried to escape after last September’s explosion - to meet him.

Mr Farroukh was arrested but Hassan’s lie was quickly uncovered and Mr Farroukh was released.

He now feels “nervous and scared”, the Old Bailey heard, as he described to the court the impact of Hassan’s actions on others.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan, speaking ahead of Hassan’s sentencing, said Mr Farroukh has suffered “health problems, both physical and mental” since the ordeal.

She added: “He has described feeling sickly and generally nervous about what other people may say about him.”

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Victim had to give up job after attack

In another victim impact statement read out to the court by prosecutor Alison Morgan, commuter Stephen Nash said he had to give up his job as a social worker due to his fear of getting on the Tube since the incident in September 2017, in which he suffered severe burns to his head and ears as well as blisters to his mouth and nose.
Mr Nash said: “Since the attack I have not used the Tube.

“I believed I was going to die so, due to fear, I don’t use the Tube. I don’t go into London any more. I don’t like being amongst crowds.”

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Timeline from arrival in UK to guilty conviction

Ahmed Hassan
Ahmed Hassan (Image: Metropolitan Police)

How did a Sunbury teenager go from being a star student to plotting an attack that injured 29 people?

The court heard how Ali blamed the UK and USA for the death of his father in Iraq and how he had been trained by Islamic State before coming to the UK.

In his defence, he had claimed that he hadn’t wanted to hurt anyone with the bomb and he hadn’t intended for it go off.

The prosecution countered that the only reason the outcome wasn’t worse was because “the main charge had failed to function fully”.

Read more.

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Every piece of footage the jury saw

Dramatic footage used during the trial has been released in its entirety by the Metropolitan Police.

Videos from the trial include the moments before, during and after the explosion.

Read more.

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'I feel frightened'

Ms Glazebrook told how she was plagued by disturbing images of the bomb exploding and the face of Hassan.

She said:

When this happens I feel frightened and experience physical reactions including palpitations and breathlessness.

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'I believed I was going to die'

A victim statement made by Lucinda Glazebrook has been read out ahead of the sentencing.

She suffered superficial burns to her face and hands, and has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

She also lost some of her hair after being caught in the blast.

She said:

I view myself as a changed person. I believed I was going to die.

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Good morning

Good morning, Ahmed Hassan Mohammed Ali is waiting to be sentenced in the Old Bailey this morning. Stay with us for live updates.

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