A group of Algerian terrorists, trained in Al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan, established a poison factory in an apartment in north London.
British security services and government scientists raided the lab and established that the intended target was to be the Jewish community in north London.
The poison “Ricin,” was discovered in the chemical lab and an alert went out for an illegal immigrant named Kamel Bourgass, who lived in the apartment.
Bourgass’ capture came in January 2003 when the British intelligence service MI5 were contacted by the Algerian security services with some shocking information. They had arrested a suspected Algerian terrorist, Mohammed Meguerba, 36, who told them he had been working with Al-Qaeda supporters in Britain and had been helping them produce Ricin at the north London apartment. The two produced “two pots” of Ricin – neither of which were found when the apartment was raided.
The police did find a locked bag in Bourgass' bedroom with an envelope containing a set of recipes in Arabic in his handwriting. On the front of the envelope was the address of the Finsbury Park mosque in north London with the name of "Nadir", by which Bourgass was also known. These recipes were later photocopied on a machine at the Mosque, the court heard.
Details of five poisons that could be made with easy–to-obtain ingredients were written out and scientists later followed the instructions in the recipes, producing enough ricin and cyanide to kill hundreds of people.
The ricin trial, which began in September last year, ended this week. The jury found Bourgass guilty of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance by using poisons and explosives for which he was given a 17 year sentence.
Four other Algerians - Mouloud Sihali, 29, David Aissa Khalef, 33, Sidali Feddag, 20, and Mustapha Taleb, 35 – were accused of helping Bourgass, but all were cleared by the jury. Following the not- guilty verdicts, prosecutors dropped plans for a third trial involving four other alleged conspirators - three Algerians and a Libyan.
British security services and government scientists raided the lab and established that the intended target was to be the Jewish community in north London.
The poison “Ricin,” was discovered in the chemical lab and an alert went out for an illegal immigrant named Kamel Bourgass, who lived in the apartment.
Bourgass’ capture came in January 2003 when the British intelligence service MI5 were contacted by the Algerian security services with some shocking information. They had arrested a suspected Algerian terrorist, Mohammed Meguerba, 36, who told them he had been working with Al-Qaeda supporters in Britain and had been helping them produce Ricin at the north London apartment. The two produced “two pots” of Ricin – neither of which were found when the apartment was raided.
The police did find a locked bag in Bourgass' bedroom with an envelope containing a set of recipes in Arabic in his handwriting. On the front of the envelope was the address of the Finsbury Park mosque in north London with the name of "Nadir", by which Bourgass was also known. These recipes were later photocopied on a machine at the Mosque, the court heard.
Details of five poisons that could be made with easy–to-obtain ingredients were written out and scientists later followed the instructions in the recipes, producing enough ricin and cyanide to kill hundreds of people.
The ricin trial, which began in September last year, ended this week. The jury found Bourgass guilty of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance by using poisons and explosives for which he was given a 17 year sentence.
Four other Algerians - Mouloud Sihali, 29, David Aissa Khalef, 33, Sidali Feddag, 20, and Mustapha Taleb, 35 – were accused of helping Bourgass, but all were cleared by the jury. Following the not- guilty verdicts, prosecutors dropped plans for a third trial involving four other alleged conspirators - three Algerians and a Libyan.