In a case involving 'home-grown terrorists', a British husband and wife duo of Pakistani origin, who were plotting to carry out a terrorist attack in Manchester were today sentenced to jail for nearly eight years each, the police said.
Hairdresser Shasta Khan, 38, and her husband Mohammed Sajid Khan, 34, were believed to have been in the early stages of building an improvised explosive device to target Jewish communities in Manchester. Khan was born in Pakistan, but was raised a British national from the age of 4, while Shasta Khan was born in the UK and her marriage to Khan was her third.
The two met on a Muslim dating web site in July 2010 and married on 10 August 2010. Changes in their demeanour and attire show that by July 2011 they had strict Islamic beliefs .
Shasta Khan, who was convicted of engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism and two counts of possessing a record of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism following a trial, was jailed for eight years.
Mohammed Sajid Khan, who pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism, was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP), and must serve a minimum of seven and a half years before being considered eligible for parole.
Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Mole, head of the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit said: 'What we must acknowledge is the dangers posed by the relatively easy access to online publications, which contain instructions on how to make explosive devices from everyday household items, and how this can create 'home-grown' terrorists.'
The Greater Manchester Police believe that they were preparing to carry out a terrorist attack in Britain, with the most likely target being the Jewish communities of Manchester.
Their plan was unravelled after police were initially called to reports of a domestic assault, but a family member intimated that possible terrorist acts were being committed and the counter-terrorism investigation was launched.
Hairdresser Shasta Khan, 38, and her husband Mohammed Sajid Khan, 34, were believed to have been in the early stages of building an improvised explosive device to target Jewish communities in Manchester. Khan was born in Pakistan, but was raised a British national from the age of 4, while Shasta Khan was born in the UK and her marriage to Khan was her third.
The two met on a Muslim dating web site in July 2010 and married on 10 August 2010. Changes in their demeanour and attire show that by July 2011 they had strict Islamic beliefs .
Shasta Khan, who was convicted of engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism and two counts of possessing a record of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism following a trial, was jailed for eight years.
Mohammed Sajid Khan, who pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism, was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP), and must serve a minimum of seven and a half years before being considered eligible for parole.
Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Mole, head of the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit said: 'What we must acknowledge is the dangers posed by the relatively easy access to online publications, which contain instructions on how to make explosive devices from everyday household items, and how this can create 'home-grown' terrorists.'
The Greater Manchester Police believe that they were preparing to carry out a terrorist attack in Britain, with the most likely target being the Jewish communities of Manchester.
Their plan was unravelled after police were initially called to reports of a domestic assault, but a family member intimated that possible terrorist acts were being committed and the counter-terrorism investigation was launched.