This undated handout photo issued by Counter Terrorism Policing North East shows pharmacist Rowaida El-Hassan. A man and woman who met on a Muslim dating website have been handed prison sentences for plotting an Islamic State-inspired bomb attack in Britain. Prosecutors say Munir Mohammed, an asylum-seeker from Sudan, and London pharmacist Rowaida El-Hassan met on SingleMuslim.com and bonded over their shared extremist views. On Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, judge Michael Topolski sentenced 37-year-old Mohammed to life with no chance of parole for 14 years. El-Hassan, who is 32, was jailed for 12 years, plus five years on probation. (Counter Terrorism Policing North via AP)
LONDON (AP) — A man and woman who met on a Muslim dating website were handed prison sentences Thursday for plotting an Islamic State-inspired bomb attack in Britain.
Prosecutors say Munir Mohammed, an asylum-seeker from Sudan, and London pharmacist Rowaida El-Hassan met on SingleMuslim.com and bonded over their shared extremist views, exchanging videos of beheadings and other extremist material.
Prosecutors said Mohammed volunteered to carry out an attack during Facebook exchanges with a man he believed to be an Islamic State group commander.
He was arrested in December 2016, and police found bomb-making instructions and two of the three components for the explosive TATP at his home.
Last month, a jury at London’s Central Criminal Court found the couple guilty of preparing terrorist acts.
Judge Michael Topolski sentenced 37-year-old Mohammed Thursday to life with no chance of parole for 14 years. El-Hassan, 32, was jailed for 12 years, plus five years on probation.
The judge said Mohammed had decided to make an explosive device — either “an ordinary bomb” or one containing the poison ricin. He said Mohammed drew in El-Hassan until she “became an enthusiastic and encouraging partner.”
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