A terror fanatic who plotted to bomb an English Defence League rally in 2012 has been granted parole despite a last-ditch appeal by Labour MP David Lammy. Mohammed Hasseen, 24 at the time of his conviction, was part of a group of six Muslim men who intended to detonate homemade bombs and attack far-right demonstrators. Their plan collapsed when they arrived too late for the event, which had already concluded. In 2013, Hasseen received a 23-year-and-nine-month prison sentence for terror offenses. Now, he has been deemed suitable for release, though Lammy criticized the decision as "irrational" and claimed procedural fairness was lacking. Sir John Saunders, the Secretary of State for Justice, upheld the ruling, acknowledging the severity of Hasseen’s crimes but asserting that the risk of future violence was adequately managed. The plot against the EDL rally was fueled by extremist ideologies, with the group immersing themselves in violent Islamic materials. Judge Nicholas Hilliard noted that the men had accumulated nearly 18,000 items of extremist content on their devices, including videos and speeches promoting jihad and retribution. The group aimed to incite a cycle of retaliatory violence. Despite their failed attempt, the judge emphasized that their intent remained unchanged, stating it was "inconceivable" that their thwarted attack would deter them from future acts of terrorism. During the sentencing, EDL leader Tommy Robinson publicly expressed solidarity with the victims by shouting "God save the Queen" from the court gallery. Hasseen and five others traveled to Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, intending to launch their attack. They arrived just after the rally ended, finding only a small number of attendees. Instead, they opted for a meal and returned to Birmingham. Police initially had no knowledge of the plot, but a routine traffic stop led to the discovery of weapons in a vehicle belonging to one of the suspects. A worker at a car repair shop later found a bag of explosives and other weaponry in the boot, prompting an investigation that eventually led to the arrests of all six men. Separately, a different terror plot unfolded in Manchester, where Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, killed two worshippers and injured four others during a knife and car attack at a synagogue on October 2, 2025. His co-conspirator, Mohammad Bashir, 31, was jailed for life for planning a separate attack on the UK Defence Academy in Shrivenham. Prior to the synagogue attack, Al-Shamie had been arrested twice, once for breaching a non-molestation order and once for suspected rape, during which his mobile devices were seized. However, the data on these devices, which included extremist content and discussions of violence, was not examined until after the attack occurred. Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson apologized for the oversight, calling it a "missed opportunity." He stated that the information retrieved from Al-Shamie’s devices could have prompted further investigation and potentially prevented the attack. The data suggested Al-Shamie was deeply entrenched in extremist thinking, with messages indicating his readiness for violence. The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), is now examining how the force handled the case, including whether there were lapses in protocol that allowed the attack to proceed unchecked. Bashir and Al-Shamie had met at a mosque in Cheetham Hill, where they discussed their plans in private. CCTV footage showed them sitting in a prayer room, speaking about targeting the MoD base. Al-Shamie expressed a desire for weapons, and Bashir appeared enthusiastic about the mission. The pair later traveled to Shrivenham, where they conducted reconnaissance. Though they discarded their phones, the data recovered from them later proved critical to the prosecution. Bashir was arrested at Manchester Airport but was not directly linked to the synagogue attack. Nevertheless, his role in planning the MoD attack was sufficient to secure a life sentence. The inquests into the deaths of the two men killed at the synagogue will scrutinize all aspects of the attack, including the police’s response and the circumstances leading up to it. The IOPC is also conducting a broader review of the police’s handling of Al-Shamie’s case. Sir Stephen Watson has reached out to the families of the victims and representatives of the Jewish community, expressing deep sorrow for the loss of life and the trauma suffered. He reiterated the force’s commitment to combating extremism and terrorism, vowing to learn from the mistakes that allowed the attack to occur. The ongoing investigations aim to ensure that such failures are not repeated, offering some measure of closure to those affected by the tragedy.
4 reports
Daily MailIndependentCenterFactual 98Objective 959 days agoPolice in Greater Manchester admitted they had possession of the mobile phones of Jihad Al-Shamie, the perpetrator of the Manchester synagogue attack in October 2025, months prior to the incident but did not examine their contents until after the attack occurred. Al-Shamie was arrested twice before the attack—once in February 2025 for breaching a non-molestation order and again in September 2025 for alleged rape—and his phones were seized during both arrests. However, messages indicating he was 'war ready' and had 'had enough of this world' were not reviewed until after the attack, which killed two people. The police chief apologized for the missed opportunity to prevent the attack, and an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been launched. Additionally, Mohammad Bashir, a co-conspirator who helped Al-Shamie conduct a reconnaissance mission at a UK military base, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the situation factually, focusing on the failure of law enforcement to act on available evidence rather than taking a clear ideological stance. It includes quotes from the police chief expressing regret and mentions ongoing investigations without overtly favoring any side. The报道
Why factuality (98): The Daily Mail article accurately reports on the police chief's apology and the details of the missed opportunity. It aligns with the cross-source consensus regarding the timeline and the nature of the missed opportunity. The factual claims are well-supported and consistent with other reports.
Why objectivity (95): The article uses emotionally charged language such as 'deeply sorry' and 'tragic' to describe the situation, which may introduce some bias. However, it remains largely factual and avoids overtly favoring one perspective over another.
BBC News (UK)State / PublicCenterFactual 97Objective 949 days agoPolice in Greater Manchester admitted failing to examine mobile devices seized from Jihad Al-Shamie, the attacker responsible for a deadly synagogue shooting in October 2025. Al-Shamie, who was on bail for an alleged rape, used his devices to communicate extremist views with co-conspirator Mohammad Bashir, who was later sentenced to life imprisonment. The devices contained evidence of radicalization, but were not analyzed due to ongoing legal proceedings against Al-Shamie. Police chief Sir Stephen Watson apologized, acknowledging the missed opportunity to gather critical intelligence. An independent watchdog is now investigating past police interactions with Al-Shamie, while another officer faces scrutiny for handling sexual offense allegations against him.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of a police failure without overt ideological slant. It highlights both the systemic oversight and the subsequent accountability measures, balancing the narrative without leaning toward any particular political agenda. The focus remains on procedural issues and
Why factuality (97): The BBC News article accurately reports on the police's failure to check Al-Shamie's phones despite arresting him twice. It aligns with the cross-source consensus regarding the timeline and the nature of the missed opportunity. The factual claims are well-supported and consistent with other reports.
Why objectivity (94): The article maintains a neutral tone throughout, presenting facts without editorializing or showing clear bias. It focuses on the legal proceedings and statements from authorities without injecting personal opinion.
The Guardian (UK)IndependentCenterFactual 97Objective 939 days agoGreater Manchester Police (GMP) has apologized for failing to examine the mobile devices of Jihad al-Shamie, the attacker responsible for the October 2025 Manchester synagogue shooting. Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson acknowledged that critical data from the devices could have led to earlier intervention, calling it a 'missed opportunity.' Al-Shamie was arrested twice in 2025, yet his devices were not analyzed before the attack. A friend of al-Shamie, Mohammad Bashir, was recently sentenced to life imprisonment for planning a terrorist act alongside him. Watson stated that the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is now reviewing GMP's past investigations into al-Shamie. The case highlights concerns over intelligence gathering and counterterrorism protocols.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of a police investigation and judicial outcome without overt ideological slant. While the incident involves terrorism and law enforcement accountability, the reporting focuses on procedural shortcomings rather than taking a partisan stance. The tone remains ap究
Why factuality (97): The Guardian article accurately conveys the admission by Greater Manchester Police about missing an opportunity to analyze Al-Shamie's devices. It aligns with the other sources regarding the timeline and the nature of the missed opportunity. The information presented is consistent with the cross-sou
Why objectivity (93): The article presents the situation objectively, focusing on the statements from the police chief and the legal proceedings. While it includes quotes that reflect the police's regret, it does so without taking sides or using overly emotive language.
Daily MirrorIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 909 days agoGreater Manchester Police has acknowledged that it failed to examine digital evidence obtained from Jihad Al-Shamie, the perpetrator of a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue, which could have revealed his extremist tendencies prior to the incident. Al-Shamie killed two people and injured four before being shot dead by police. The police had seized his mobile devices during previous arrests but did not analyze their content until after the attack occurred. This revelation followed the sentencing of Al-Shamie's accomplice, Mohammad Bashir, to life imprisonment. Police chief Sir Stephen Watson expressed regret over the missed opportunity and explained that legal restrictions on disclosing case details delayed the release of this information.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information regarding the police's failure to examine digital evidence related to a terrorist attack. It does not exhibit overt bias, as it reports on the admission of missed opportunities without taking a stance on the political implications or assigning blame to any一方.
Why factuality (95): The Daily Mirror article accurately reports that Greater Manchester Police missed opportunities to examine Jihad Al-Shamie's devices before the attack. It aligns closely with other sources that mention the phones were seized but not analyzed until after the attack. The article does not make unsuppor
Why objectivity (90): The article uses emotionally charged terms like 'cowardly attack' and 'deeply sorry,' which may introduce some bias. However, it remains largely factual and avoids overtly favoring one perspective over another.
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