A teacher who plotted to recruit an army of children for an ISIS-inspired terrorist campaign ranted about the end of “Western domination” as he was jailed for life today.

Umar Ahmed Haque, 25, picked out targets including Parliament, the City, London's transport network, and Westfield in Stratford for armed attacks on innocent civilians, police, and embassy officials.

He tried to radicalise children to his cause by role-playing terrorist attacks during after-school classes at the Ripple Road mosque in Barking.

Haque had previously played ISIS propaganda videos to classes at the £3000-a-year Lantern of Knowledge Islamic School in Leyton, where he taught PE and Islamic Studies despite having no formal qualifications.

Police believe Haque may have had access to up to 250 pupils at two east London schools and the Ripple Road mosque over five years, as he became increasingly radicalised.

At the Old Bailey this afternoon, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave sentenced Haque to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years, branding him a “dangerous liar” who was able to convert his young followers by being “intelligent, articulate, and persuasive, with an easy smile – he is narcissistic and clearly enjoys the power he wields over others.”

But the judge told him: “You have violated the Koran and Islam by your actions, as well as the law of all civilised people. It is to be hoped that you will come to realise this one day.”

As he was dragged from the dock, Haque waggled his finger at police officers and shouted out: “Nine years, that’s all you have. Nine years left of Western dominance. After that, hunger and insecurity”.

Haque’s accomplice, 19-year-old , Abuthather Mamun, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the plot, after being caught on tape as Haque outlined his terrorist aspirations.

The court heard he came on to the police radar in April 2016, when he was stopped from flying to Syria via Turkey to join ISIS, and was stripped of his passport.

Angered at not being allowed to leave the country, Haque began plotting a home-grown attack, and resolved to recruit his pupils to the jihadi cause.

He identified an array of targets, including Big Ben, the Queen’s guard, the London Underground, police and army bases, courts, and journalists, and drew up a checklist of weapons that he would need.

Haque was in charge of an afterschool club at the Ripple Road mosque, where he forced pupils to role play terrorist attacks similar to those in Westminster and London Bridge.

He stationed a pupil by the door as a lookout when playing ISIS propaganda, and forced the youngsters to swear to Allah that they would not reveal the content of his classes.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC told the court an NHS psychotherapist, who is now working with nine of the affected children, believes they have been left “traumatised by the experience.

“As a result of their contact with Haque the children had spoken of their confusion and frustration surrounding Islamic State, their religion and non-Muslims”, he said.

“Although they are clear what they saw was wrong, they are left conflicted and without answers which leads them to be particularly vulnerable to grooming.

“Some speak of having flashbacks of the videos and nightmares centred around fear of death and punishment in the afterlife.”

One of the fathers said his son had confided in him about Haque’s radicalisation techniques, including watching videos of guns, knives, and “bloodbaths”.

“What my son has been exposed to at the mosque has left me feeling distressed and worried for the future of Muslim kids”, he said.

“I feel unsure of who to trust and who not to. I felt I had faith and confidence in sending my son to learn about Islam at the mosque, but little did I know he would be taught about terrorism and martyrdom. Clearly my judgment was wrong.”

Haque, from Forest Gate, was found guilty by a jury last month of two counts of preparing to commit terrorist acts. He had already admitted possessing three copies of a terrorist publication a charge of dissemination of terrorist publications

The jury found Haque not guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and were deadlocked on another count of dissemination of terrorist publications.

Co-defendant Mamun, from Barking, who was also a teacher at the Ripple Road mosque, was convicted by the jury of helping him to raise funds for the terror plot.

Haque shared his plans with confidante Mohammed Abid, 27, from Manor Park, who was found guilty of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism.

Abid was jailed today for four years and three months.

A fourth defendant, Haque's neighbour Nadeem Patel, 26, from Forest Gate, admitted possession of a prohibited weapon and was sentenced to 16 months in prison last month.

Commander Dean Haydon, who leads the Met's anti-terrorism squad, said he was "horrified" when he learned Haque had been allowed in charge of classes of children at the Lantern of Knowledge school.

"It's a fee paying school, they are paying significant amounts of money to send their children to this school and they expect them to be safe, with safeguarding measures, and taught by fully qualified teachers. In this case, they weren't", he said.

"He (Haque) had instructed the children not to say anything, they were almost paralysed with fear into not telling parents and not telling teachers. As a result, there was almost a wall of silence.

"He was preparing the children for martyrdom by making them role play terrorist acts in and around London."

Ofsted’s Deputy Chief Inspector, Matthew Coffey, said in a statement last month: “It is of deep regret that this individual was able to work within the independent school system and expose his warped ideology to children.

“Umar Haque engaged in highly sophisticated grooming of young, vulnerable children. We welcome the conviction and are fully supportive of the work taking place across Government to ensure people like Haque aren’t able to do this again."