Mohammad Farooq Found Guilty of Terrorism: Pressure Cooker Bomb Twice as Powerful as Boston Marathon

Mohammad Farooq, a student nurse, had planned to detonate a homemade pressure cooker bomb containing 22 lbs. of explosives at the hospital where he was employed.

Arrest and Bomb Plot Details

Farooq, 28, was arrested outside St James’s Hospital in Leeds on January 20, 2023. He was found in possession of a pressure cooker bomb designed to be twice as powerful as those used in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. The court was informed that Farooq had immersed himself in “extremist Islamic ideology” and sought martyrdom by killing himself in a jihadist act aimed at causing maximum casualties, mainly targeting nurses.

Farooq exhibited suspicious behavior, which was noticed by a patient outside the hospital who managed to “talk him down.” This patient, Nathan Newby, played a critical role in preventing the attack by engaging Farooq in conversation, which ultimately led to his arrest by police. Farooq had a viable pressure cooker bomb along with two knives and an imitation firearm when he was arrested. In his car, additional materials such as nails, tubs, an explosive compound, and floor plans of four hospital wards were found​.

Farooq had initially planned to attack RAF Menwith Hill, a military base in North Yorkshire used by the United States, identified as a target by ISIS. When this plan seemed unfeasible, he shifted his focus to St James’s Hospital, considering it a “softer” and “less well-protected” target​​. He held grievances against several colleagues at the hospital, adding to his motivation to target the hospital​.

The following video appears to be a police body camera video of Mohammad’s arrest at the hospital.

Boston Marathon Bombing Connection

The Boston Marathon bombers had learned to make their pressure cooker bombs from an article in an Al Qaeda magazine called “Inspire.” The article “How to Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom” was published in the magazine’s first issue in 2010, spanning pages 33-40. The bombers meticulously followed the instructions, resulting in devastating results.

Below is a video from the 2013 Boston bombing with the same kind of device but only half the amount of explosives per device:

Imagine the catastrophic impact if a bomb with twice the power of the Boston Marathon bombs were detonated indoors at a hospital. The confined space, coupled with the frequent use of oxygen and the extensive oxygen lines throughout the hospital, could significantly amplify the explosion’s effect, far surpassing the damage caused by the outdoor detonation at the Boston Marathon.

Misleading Terms: “Self-Radicalized” and “Lone Wolf”

According to most mainstream news reports, Farooq was described as a “self-radicalized lone wolf terrorist” who intended to kill as many nurses as possible.

The terms “self-radicalized” and “lone wolf” can be misleading, creating a false sense of inevitability and helplessness, as if the individual radicalized entirely on their own and there was nothing anyone could do to prevent it.

But the fact is that all of these lone wolves come to their understandings of Islam from modern preachers and ancient and authentic orthodox Islamic doctrine and scripture. There are no self-radicalized lone wolves. At best, you might call them autodidacts because they may have taught themselves the core principles of Islam. But it was still Islam, they learned, and it is still Islam that motivated their actions.

There are no self-radicalized lone wolves. The closest you could get might be to call them autodidacts in that they may have taught themselves the core principles of Islam, but it was still Islam that they learned. And it is still Islam that motivated their actions.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Farooq pleaded guilty to several charges, including possession of an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, possession of an explosive substance in suspicious circumstances, possession of information likely to be useful to a terrorist, and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offense. He was found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court. Farooq will be sentenced at a later date. Meanwhile, authorities continue investigating to identify any accomplices or networks that may have supported his activities.​