A WOMAN with strong links to multiple jihadist networks lives on our doorstep. Ruksana Begum, whose two brothers are in jail for planning Mumbai-style terror attacks on British landmarks, was jailed in December for being in possession of materials useful to terrorism. She was recently released, but her whereabouts were incorrectly reported in the press last week. In fact, Begum is a resident of Hackney, living at an address on the Provost Estate, Hoxton.
It can also now be reported that Ruksana Begum, 22, is the wife of notorious extremist Jahangir Alom, who pleaded guilty on Friday to being part of a possible plot to attack Royal Wootton Bassett – the town that pays tribute to dead British soldiers – and to assassinate the chiefs of MI5 and MI6.
There is nothing to suggest that Begum herself has engaged in terrorist activity. But the revelation that she is wife to Alom, 26, of Stratford, adds to her already close association with jihadists.
In July 2012, police investigators found two editions of Al-Qaeda’s Inspire magazine on a micro SD memory card in her mobile phone, in a raid on Begum’s London address.
The magazine included information on handgun training and how to detonate bombs remotely.
Begum appeared in court in December where she was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading guilty to possessing a record of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
During sentencing, Mr Justice Fulford said: “She is clearly moving in the milieu and some of those close to her have serious Jihadist outlook and, certainly as far as her two brothers are concerned, terrorist intentions.”
But in summing up her case, the judge said: “This defendant, with other members of her family, was devastated by the arrest and later imprisonment of her brothers for serious terrorist offences.
“The family, which was previously respected in the community where they lived in Cardiff, was ostracised. She is of good character and a good Muslim.
“There is no evidence that she was motivated by their ideology or was preparing to follow them. She had damaged what could have been a potentially blossoming future by committing these offences.”
Begum’s defence team said: “She accessed this material, which is easily accessible, before coming to London to understand the background and ideology which led to her brothers’ incarceration.
“She is an intelligent and articulate young woman who does not share the views of others who do not care.”
Begum was recently released after having already served half of her sentence – most of it while on remand – and is now said to be living back on the Hoxton estate.
Her husband Alom pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday to preparing for terrorism, or assisting another in terrorism, as part of a two-year long plot involving a possible plan to attack Royal Wootton Bassett.
Alom and Begum married in June 2012 and moved from Cardiff to London – with Begum living in Hoxton. Their honeymoon period was cut short when they were both arrested in July on terror-related charges.
Alom pleaded guilty to the charges alongside white British Muslim convert Richard Dart, 29, of Broadway, Ealing, and Imran Mahmood, 21, of Northolt that occurred between July 2010 and July 2012.
Dart is an ex-BBC security guard who changed his name to Salahuddin al Britani. He was allegedly converted by Anjem Choudary – a notorious hate cleric who suggested would-be terrorists should go on “Jihad Seekers Allowance” so they could focus on extremism instead of getting a job.
The trio admitted to plotting possible attacks on MI5 and MI6 chiefs and on Royal Wootton Bassett, the small town that has become well known for residents lining the streets to pay tribute to dead British soldiers.
The Old Bailey heard on Friday that in a message conveyed by one suspect to another, ‘WB’ was discussed, which police have interpreted to be Wootton Bassett.
One of the men said: “Yes, yes, WB, if not that then all combatants. It is that or even just deal with a few MI5 or MI6 heads.”
Alom had planned to join Dart on a trip to Pakistan for training in terrorism. Instead, in July 2012 he was arrested after a long surveillance operation at an address near the Olympic Park.
The court did not hear details of the allegations on Friday, but the trio have been remanded in custody for reports and will be sentenced at the end of next month.
