‘Three musketeers’ gang might have met Anjem Choudary before Lee Rigby-style terror plot

Members of a terrorist cell who dubbed themselves the “Three Musketeers” are facing years behind bars for plotting a Lee Rigby-style attack after a partly secret trial plagued by accusations of police corruption.

Two members of the gang, from the West Midlands, sought out infamous Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant supporter Anjem Choudary before they prepared to strike police and military targets on British soil, it can now be reported.

Convicted terrorists Ali, 29, Khobaib Hussain, 25, and Mohibur Rahman, 33, denied preparing an attack and claimed the incriminating evidence was planted by undercover police officer Vincent, the boss of a fake firm called Hero Couriers.

Ali arrived for his first shift at Hero Couriers and left his Seat Leon at the Birmingham depot before MI5 moved in to conduct a search and “technical” operation. Instead, they found the JD Sports bag in the footwell, containing a partially-constructed pipe bomb and meat cleaver with the word “kafir” – meaning non-believer – scratched on it in readiness for the imminent attack. An imitation gun, cartridges, a 9mm bullet, latex gloves and industrial tape were also recovered. 

Members of the terror cell may have met Choudary, the convicted hate preacher, just days before they began their attack, it can now be revealed. Text messages not seen by the jury show Rahman and Aziz planned to travel to see the radical cleric on May 8 last year.

That night at 11.46pm, Choudary sent a text message to Rahman, which read: “Dear brother did you reach home yet safe and sound?”

The gang was led by former law degree student turned trainee gas fitter Hussain, from Birmingham, and included his friend and next-door neighbour Ali and committed jihadist Rahman, who they met behind bars. Ali and Hussain were jailed for joining a terrorist training camp in Pakistan while Rahman was in prison for possessing an al Qaida propaganda magazine which contained bomb-making instructions. Rahman, of Stoke, had connections with other extremists, including Choudary, who he is believed to have visited with Aziz last May while the radical preacher was on bail awaiting trial for supporting Isil.

The four-month trial was held partly in secret in the interests of national security as two anonymous witnesses gave evidence behind closed doors. The trial was disrupted over fears that jurors might be unfairly influenced as the country was rocked by four terror attacks in Westminster, Manchester, London Bridge, and Finsbury Park.

Jurors … after deliberating for more than 22 hours, unanimously convicted the men of preparing terrorist acts, along with fourth defendant Tahir Aziz, 38. As they were led from the dock, Rahman shouted out: “I hope you’re happy with your lies. Lying scumbags.”

Mr Justice Globe remanded them in custody until sentencing on Thursday morning.