Our horror at terrorist living on the doorstep
Neighbours today spoke of their shock when they discovered that an Islamic extremist who helped plan an attack that could have been bigger than the July 7 atrocities had been living in their street in Sandwell.
Mohammed Saud was one of six men who had plotted to target an English Defence League march on June 30 last year.
The 22-year-old, who was living in Cambridge Road, Smethwick, pleaded guilty at London's Woolwich Crown Court yesterday to preparing an act of terrorism. Among those coming to terms with the news today was mother-of-three Liz Rowley, 54. She said: "I am shocked. It shows you do not know who is living on your doorstep."
Father-of-two Jamal Uddin, a taxi driver who has lived in Cambridge Road for two years, said: "I am surprised at this. I have never known any of these goings on."
Another Cambridge Road resident, grandfather-of-one Michael Walker, 70, said: It's normally pretty quiet around here. It's not the sort of place you'd expect to be at the centre of a terrorist plot."
A taxi driver who said he was Saud's brother said: "The people in this road can say what they like. They do not know this person."
Members of the group travelled to the EDL march ready to cause mass injuries and deaths but the plan fell apart because the gathering in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, finished earlier than expected.
Meanwhile, the Birmingham Coalition of Muslim Organisations and Mosques, made of groups including the Association of British Muslims and Birmingham Central Mosque, yesterday issued a statement condemning the plot.
It said: "We wholeheartedly support the rights of individuals and organisations to free speech, we do not however support any initiatives designed to bring disharmony to our society.
"There is no place for violence or provocation irrespective of what views people have in Birmingham and we stand united in our condemnation of anyone who thinks that the use of violence is an acceptable response."
The group also called for peace "in defiance of extremisms that try to take root on the fringes of all our communities." Saud will be sentenced on June 6 along with Jewel Uddin, Omar Mohammed Khan, Mohammed Hasseen, Anzal Hussain and Zohaib Ahmed.
A taxi driver who said he was Saud's brother declined to comment. But he added: The people in this road can say what they like. They do not know this person." Saud will be sentenced on June 6 along with Jewel Uddin, Omar Mohammed Khan, Mohammed Hasseen, Anzal Hussain and Zohaib Ahmed.
