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Safiyya Amira Shaikh, An Islamic Convert And Supporter Of Islamic State, Admits Plotting To Bomb St Paul’s Cathedral
Swarajya Staff
Feb 24, 2020, 02:15 PM | Updated 02:15 PM IST
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A female convert to Islam and supporter of the Islamic State has pleaded guilty for plotting to bomb St Paul's Cathedral and a hotel, reports Sky News.
Safiyya Amira Shaikh has admitted to the preparation of terrorist acts during her hearing at the Old Bailey.
Shaikh seek help from someone who could prepare explosives and conducted a scouting trip to select a historic site to plant bombs like the St Paul's Cathedral.
The defendant, born Michelle Ramsden, converted to Islam in 2007 and had pledged her allegiance to the Islamic State somewhere between August and October 2019. She also shared terrorist documents via groups using the Telegram messaging app over the same period.
Her journey to the extremist brand of Islam and radicalisation, started in 2015 when she started reading material that was available online.
On her quest to build a bomb, she had confided to two people online. One was the explosives expert and his wife but she was unaware that she was actually in touch with undercover security officers.
According to a prosecution case summary, Shaikh had wanted to inflict massive casualty in a suicide attack on St Paul's.
Shaikh has been remanded in custody until further sentencing on 12 May.
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