Man convicted over terror manuals

In a chilling echo of the Glasgow and London attacks, nightclubs and airports were amongst the "suitable targets" identified in the "vast library" of terror material found on the computer of Omar Altimimi.

The 37-year-old, who had links to Arab terrorists, had collected detailed information on how to set up terror cells in the UK, ways to make explosives and how car bombs can be detonated at the entrances to buildings via remote control.

Described by security sources as a "clean skin", Altimimi was not known as a terror suspect when he came to England to "blend-in" by applying for jobs with the police and as a teacher.

But he had links with Arab terror cells in Europe, kept up multiple identities to cover his tracks and hoarded computer files on his home PC detailing how to plan and carry out jihadi terror.

Father-of-three Altimimi, from Bolton, Lancashire, was found guilty of four counts of possessing material for the purpose of terrorism on Wednesday following a four-week trial at Manchester Crown Court.

On Thursday he was convicted of two more charges of possession of material for a purpose connected with terrorism and two charges of money laundering. He claimed to have no knowledge of the material on his computer.

All the offences took place between February and June of last year.

The court heard how Altimimi was linked to terrorists in Holland and to Junade Ferouze, 31, from Blackburn, who was jailed last month for 22 years for his part in bomb plots led by Dhiren Barot, named as al Qaida's "General" in the UK.

The Recorder of Manchester, Judge Maddison, remanded the defendant in custody for sentence on Friday.