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4 years for Taliban fanatic from Halifax who backed July 7 bombings
A HALIFAX man with extreme Islamic beliefs has been jailed for four years.
Rizwan Mahmood Ditta, 29, of Royd Terrace, Savile Park, supported the Taliban and the July 7 London bombings, a court heard.
He admitted two offences under the Terrorism Act.
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Ditta, an English tutor for Asians in Halifax, would have been keen to take part in terrorist activity, said prosecutor Jonathan Sharp. Video footage found in his possession, showed military vehicles being blown up and audio messages encouraging terrorism.
Ditta was arrested when counter-terrorism officers raided his Halifax home in January. He was charged with two counts of having data on a computer hard drive that contained information likely to be useful to a person preparing an act of terrorism.
Judge James Stewart QC, sentencing Ditta at Leeds Crown Court, said the offending material had been hidden in a locked wardrobe under clothes.
Judge Stewart also saw additional video footage showing the manufacture of an explosive suicide vest containing ballbearings.
"Its explosive effect was up to 30 metres and showed how to ensure the maximum are killed in a bus or elsewhere."
He told Ditta: "You pleaded guilty on the basis of recklessness and your family are at a loss how you became involved with such extremist views."
But Judge Stewart said anyone convicted of terrorism offences must expect a substantial sentence. He accepted there was no evidence that Ditta's material had been used for terrorism purposes.
Mr Sharp, prosecuting, described material that included military vehicles being blown up and images, in particular a blazing cross, supporting a holy war against non-believers.
"The soundtrack on videos have become associated with the terrorists' cause," said Mr Sharp, referring to Arabic speeches.
He also referred to a Hamas bomb video.
"There is enough information on the video to allow access to materials to manufacture such a device," he said.
Mr Sharp said the authors of documents found sought to give religious justification for action which was forbidden in mainstream Islam, such as the killing of women and children.
Ditta had been vocal in his adherance to a fundamentalist version of Islam.
At work where he taught he had given cause for concern, the court heard.
"It was noted he put up Islamic posters publicising his views," said Mr Sharp.
"A friend said his views were strongly fundamental, with support of the Taliban and 7/7."
Mr Sharp said Ditta supported stoning to death adulterers in England.
An examination of his car revealed a keenness to take part in terrorist activity if he knew how.
"I describe him as a 'wannabe' rather than a 'has been'," said Mr Sharp.
Terry Munyard, mitigating, said the case effectively involved one collection of material.
It was a minute selection of what was stored on computer files and there was no evidence Ditta had opened those files.
"He accepts an interest in many aspects of Islam," said Mr Munyard.
He acquired a computer hard drive with a great deal of Islamic interests on it and transferred material from what was a faulty drive on to a new one.
"That is where these files came from," said Mr Munyard. "He knew there might be material that crossed the line and for that reason he pleaded guilty."
The court heard Ditta came from a respectable family. He has parents, three sisters working and one brother studying.
"He left his job in 2006 because he was going to Pakistan to find a wife. Three potential wives were found but he decided against them," said Mr Munyard. "When he came back, he did a lot of charity work."
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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