An ISIS supporter on Friday pleaded guilty to plotting to bomb London’s historic St Paul’s Cathedral and an unnamed hotel in the capital.
Safiyya Amira Shaikh, 36, of Hayes in Middlesex, went on a reconnaissance trip last year to assess the sites where she intended to plant bombs and provided two undercover officers with bags, believing they were extremists who would help her fill them with explosives.
The woman, who was born Michelle Ramsden, faces a life sentence.
The prosecution alleged that Shaikh, who converted to Islam in 2007, began to follow extremists online and by 2015 had become radicalised. Between August and October 2019, she is alleged to have prepared the words of a pledge of allegiance to ISIS.
During the same period, she shared terrorist documents amongst groups using the encrypted Telegram messaging app.
Although the facts were not opened in court, the case prosecution summary said Shaikh said her main aim was to kill as many people as possible in a suicide attack on the historic site.
"I want to kill a lot," she told the undercover officer, posing as an online explosives expert. "I would like to do church... a day like Christmas or Easter good, kill more.
"I always send threats. But I want to make threats real."
She sent a picture of St Paul's Cathedral to the officer and wrote: "I would like to do this place for sure.
"I would like bomb and shoot 'til death... I really would love to destroy that place and the kaffir [enemies of ISIS] there."
Mr Justice Sweeney at London’s Old Bailey on Friday ordered Shaikh to be remanded in custody until sentencing on May 12.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
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Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
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THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
