An Islamic State terrorist has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years after plotting to kill Theresa May.

Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman, 21, from Finchley in north London, was found guilty last month of preparing acts of terrorism in Britain, having been arrested in November 2017 moments after collecting dummy explosives from an undercover officer.

Rahman wanted to bomb the gates of 10 Downing Street, kill armed officers and then attack the prime minister with a knife or gun.

His plot was discovered after he contacted an FBI agent who was posing as an IS handler online.

The agent introduced him to an MI5 role-player, and Rahman began to reveal his ideas.


"I want to do a suicide bomb on parliament," he said.

Image: Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman's plot was discovered after he contacted an FBI agent who was posing as an IS handler

Image: Rahman's dummy suicide vest was filled with fake explosives. Pic: Duncan Gardham

"I want to attempt to kill Theresa May.

"There are lorries here with big gas tankers. If a brother can drive it next to parliament I will bomb."

Rahman also spoke about using a suicide belt, a drone, an improvised explosive device and poison, referred to as "P" or "curry mix".

He told an undercover officer: "[God willing] will be very big if I'm successful.

"I can't mess up. I can't get [martyrdom] if I get caught."

During his trial, a jury heard how Rahman came to the attention of police when he was arrested on suspicion of sending indecent images to underage girls in August last year. He was not charged with any offences.

Image: A fake bomb given to the would-be attacker. Pic: Duncan Gardham

Officers became concerned about potentially extremist views after examining his mobile phone.

Rahman had been encouraged to take action by an uncle who travelled to Syria and was killed in a drone strike last June.

Two other uncles had been jailed in August 2016 for funding terrorism.

Rahman's mother was concerned about their influence and moved with her son to north London as a result.

Rahman was later referred to a de-radicalisation programme, Channel.

However, he lied to Channel and continued plotting his attack over the course of two years.

Image: The terrorist planned to attack the PM in Downing Street

He viewed the September 2017 Parsons Green bombing as "the start" and hailed the Manchester Arena terrorist, saying Salman Abedi had "done well" in killing 22 concert-goers at an Ariana Grande gig in May of the same year.

After his uncle's death, Rahman became more determined and went online for inspiration, unwittingly getting in touch with the FBI agent.

On 18 November last year, Rahman carried out reconnaissance around Whitehall.

He bought a rucksack from Argos two days later, before meeting an undercover officer in Brixton, south London.

Rahman thought the officer was going to fit the rucksack with explosives.

It was in fact filled with dummy explosives and replica pepper spray, and handed back to Rahman on 28 November.

Rahman told the officer he was "good to go" but was arrested as he walked away in Kensington, west London, carrying the fake bomb.

Concluding his trial, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, said: "Rahman is a very dangerous individual and it is difficult to predict when, if ever, he will become de-radicalised and no longer be a danger to society."