ISIS supporter who reportedly planned to attack Jews goes on trial

A jihadi supporter of Islamic State who allegedly planned to attack Jewish communities has gone on trial at Woolwich Crown Court.

Prosecutors say Husnain Rashid, a 32 year old from Nelson, Lancashire, also wanted to attack 4-year old Prince George, posting a photograph of the youngster at the school super-imposed with silhouettes of two masked jihadi fighters.

“Even the royal family will not be left alone,” he is alleged to have written, followed by George’s school’s full address and postcode, adding: “School starts early.”

Rashid, who is believed to have taught at the Muhammadi mosque, ran a “prolific” Telegram channel named the Lone Mujahid – named after the Mujahideen – where he provided an “e-toolkit for terrorism,” the prosecution claim.

Among his how-to guides is alleged to have been a recipe for the poison ricin from the Islamist propaganda magazine Inspire, instructions to make Molotov cocktails and napalm, and a suggestion of poisoning supermarket ice creams.

The jury also heard how he is alleged to have posted to potential ‘lone wolves’ online with suggestions of British football stadiums to strike, following the deadly attack outside Besiktas’s ground in Turkey.

He is accused of naming targets including British Army bases, shopping centres, Jewish communities and Government buildings, and of planning to flee to Syria to fight for IS.

He denies engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, encouraging terrorism, disseminating a terrorist publication and of failing to comply with a notice under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. The allegations date back to October 2016.

He was arrested at his home in November. The trial is expected to last six weeks.

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