The former leader of an extremist cell, who became the first person to be convicted in the UK of directing terrorism, will remain behind bars after being denied parole.
Islamist Rangzieb Ahmed, 47, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 10 years in 2008 for planning a terror attack.
The UK Parole Board said in its written decision that while Ahmed, who was born in Rochdale, had engaged with an accredited programme to address extremist offending, as well as with religious leaders, concerns had been raised about his “attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour” in custody.
The Parole Board panel considered evidence from Ahmed’s probation officers, prison officials, psychologists, a former police officer, a professor of Arabic, and Ahmed himself.
The panel also examined a proposal for Ahmed to live in “designated accommodation” with strict limitations placed on his contacts, movements, and activities.
However, they decided that the plan was not “robust” enough to manage Ahmed in the community.
He will be eligible for another parole hearing in future.
Global Terrorism Index - in pictures
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The UAE was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Victor Besa / The National -
Oman was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Christopher Pike / Reuters -
Eswatini was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Getty -
Equatorial Guinea was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Getty -
Togo was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Getty -
Mauritania was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Getty -
Belarus was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Getty -
Gambia was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries -
Slovenia was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Miran Kambic / www.slovenia.info -
Singapore was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. AFP -
Romania was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Courtesy: Airbnb -
Portugal was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Alamy -
North Korea was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Kim Won Jin / AFP -
Namibia was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Courtesy: Little Kulala / Wilderness Safaris -
Mongolia was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Courtesy: Frank Schieweck / Adiyabold Namkhai -
Mauritius was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries -
Kosovo was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries -
Iceland was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Getty -
Eritrea was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries -
El Salvador was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Jose Cabezas / AFP -
Dominican Republic was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Getty -
Cuba was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Yamil Lage / AFP -
Croatia was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Alamy -
Cambodia was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Tang Chhin Sothy / AFP -
Botswana was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries -
Bhutan was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Courtesy: The Postcard Dewa Hotel. -
Turkmenistan was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries.EPA -
Timor-Leste was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. iStockphoto.com -
Guinea-Bissau was listed as a country completely unaffected by terrorism in the 2020 Global Terrorism Index. It was listed as 135 along with 28 other countries. Lauren Lancaster / The National
At Ahmed’s 2008 trial, the jury heard how he headed a three-man Al Qaeda cell, which was preparing to commit mass murder.
Counter-terrorism chiefs were not sure where Ahmed was planning to strike, but were convinced an attack was imminent, his trial heard.
His scheme was revealed with the discovery of three diaries, which were found to contain details and phone numbers of key Al Qaeda operatives written in invisible ink.
UK increases terrorism threat level to 'severe' - video
He later sued MI5 and MI6 for alleged collusion in his torture by Pakistani intelligence, but last year had his damages claim thrown out by the High Court.
Ahmed had claimed he was tortured at the hands of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency while detained between 2006 and 2007, before being deported to the UK and charged with terrorism offences.
