Bangladeshi BA computer engineer convicted on terror charges

LONDON - Woolwich Crown Court has convicted Rajib Karim, an Asian-origin British Airways computer engineer who had plotted to blow up a plane, of four terror charges, including sharing information of use to hate groups.

Thirty-one-year-old Karim from Newcastle, who is originally from Bangladesh, had used his job to access information for radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, the Court was told.

Despite his denial, the jury found him guilty of all four charges, the BBC reports.

The IT expert from Dhaka was committed to an “extreme jihadist cause” and determined to become a martyr, jurors were told.

Karim, who had moved with his wife and son to Newcastle in 2006, had earlier admitted to having been involved in the production of a terrorist group’s video.

He became a supporter of the extremist organisation Jammat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) after being influenced by his younger brother Tehzeeb, the court heard.

He was described as a “mild-mannered, well-educated and respectful” man who hid his hatred for Western ways from colleagues by joining a gym, playing football and never airing extreme views, the report said.

Colin Gibbs, counter terrorism lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The most chilling element of this case is probably the fact that Karim tried to enrol as cabin crew and anyone can imagine how horrific the consequences of this could have been, had he succeeded. Karim’s deep determination to plan terror attacks whatever the cost was frightening.”

After the verdict, Home Secretary Theresa May, thanked the police and the security service for their hard work in solving the complicated case, and added that Britain faces a serious threat from terrorism.

“The fact that Karim has been found guilty of such a heinous plot shows why we will never be complacent. We know that we face a serious threat from terrorism and national security remains this government’s top priority,” she added. (ANI)