Taliban fighter convicted of bomb-making offences and planning terrorist act in Whitehall

Brian Altman QC led for the prosecution in the case of Khalid Ali who was convicted on 26 June 2018 at the Old Bailey of two counts of making an explosive substance and one count of preparation of acts of terrorism. He disappeared from London in 2011 finding his way to Afghanistan where he joined the insurgency, becoming a bomb-maker for the Taliban and Al Qaeda. He returned to the UK in 2016 and in the following months began plotting to kill a policeman, military person or a politician in the Whitehall area which he had reconnoitred on two occasions before making his way to the area on 27 April 2017 armed with three knives in order to carry out his intentions. The plan was thwarted by armed police who intercepted Ali as he crossed Parliament Street.

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