A radical extremist who conspired to instigate a racial conflict by targeting an English Defence League gathering has been approved for release despite strong objections from David Lammy. Mohammed Hasseen, part of a group of six Muslim individuals who planned to detonate homemade explosives and attack far-right EDL marchers, narrowly missed the opportunity to carry out their heinous plan as they arrived after the event had concluded. In 2013, Hasseen, then 24 years old, received a sentence of 23 years and nine months for admitting to terrorist activities.
Despite the Secretary of State for Justice contesting a Parole Board decision to release him, Hasseen has been deemed suitable for release. David Lammy MP criticized the decision, citing it as “illogical and procedurally unfair,” as the board allegedly failed to consider Hasseen’s alarming remarks to a prison staff member.
Sir John Saunders dismissed the appeal, acknowledging the severity of Hasseen’s actions and the potential catastrophic outcomes they could have led to. While recognizing the risk of reoffending, Sir Saunders stated that the panel and supporting witnesses had thoroughly deliberated on this matter during the proceedings.
Hasseen and his group were heavily influenced by extremist content as they planned an assault on the right-wing rally, as revealed by Nicholas Hilliard QC during their sentencing. The men had amassed a significant collection of extremist materials, emphasizing jihadist ideology and violent retaliation.
The Birmingham-based gang possessed approximately 18,000 pieces of Islamic extremist material, aiming to incite a cycle of retaliatory violence. Judge Hilliard highlighted the group’s deep involvement in radical content and warned that their failure to execute the attack did not diminish their intent to carry out atrocities in the future.
With the exception of Hasseen, all members of the gang traveled to Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, to target the demonstration on June 30, 2012. However, the rally concluded earlier than planned, and the EDL marchers had dispersed by the time the group arrived with an assortment of weapons, including firearms and explosives.
Instead of carrying out their planned attack, the group opted for a meal before returning to Birmingham. The authorities were unaware of the thwarted plot until a routine traffic stop two days later led to the discovery of the weapons in one of the vehicles.