Pakistani-born British citizen Munir Farooqi, 54, was at the centre of a plot to radicalise and persuade vulnerable young men to "fight, kill and die" in a jihad in Afghanistan, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Farooqi, of Victoria Terrace, Longsight, Manchester, and two others were captured in a police sting when two undercover anti-terrorism police officers infiltrated his group.
Farooqi bragged to the officers how he had fought with the Taliban and told them they could become "martyrs" for the jihad cause.
He also found "amusement" in the sight of the flag draped coffins of fallen allied troops returning from Afghanistan, the court heard.
Today Farooqi was given four life sentences and told he must serve a minimum of nine years before he can be considered for parole. » | Friday, September 09, 2011
