A man arrested at Heathrow Airport has become the first person to be convicted under laws against planning terrorist acts after pleading guilty.
Thirty-year-old Sohail Qureshi from east London planned to fly to Pakistan from Heathrow Airport in November 2006 with cash, a night-sight, two metal batons and a computer hard drive, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on Tuesday.
Qureshi admitted to three charges of preparing or commissioning terrorist acts, possessing articles likely to be used in a terror act and possessing records likely to be useful in terrorism.
Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said Qureshi had planned a "two to three-week operation" in either Pakistan, Afghanistan or Pakistan's Waziristan region after he landed in Islamabad.
"Sohail Qureshi is a dedicated supporter of Islamist extremism," said Sharp.
Internet traffic intercepted by police revealed that Qureshi had written "Pray that I kill many, brother. Revenge, revenge, revenge."
The court had also been told that he intended to take two sleeping bags, two rucksacks, medical supplies and CD-Roms on board the flight in October 2006.
Counter-terrorism officers who had followed Qureshi at Heathrow found him carrying 9,000 pounds (about 1,800 U.S. dollars) in cash.
Qureshi admitted to preparing for terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, and now faces sentencing.
Source:Xinhua
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