Muhammad Abid, the jihadi who plotted to bomb 30 landmarks across London, reportedly had two council houses. He had one for himself and the other one was for his wife, who "wanted her independence."
Abid also received benefits for being his wife Juwayriyah Noor's carer, but he lived apart from her in his own flat that was a 20-minute drive away. Noor was suffering "stress and depression" and required full-time care, Abid told the council, reported Mail Online.
An investigation has been launched to figure out how Abid was able to dupe east London's Newham Council.
Former Secretary of State for International Development Priti Patel said: "The abuse of the housing register and benefits system is scandalous and questions must be asked as to how he cheated it. At a time when there is a shortage of housing Newham should have been more vigilant and carried out more checks.'
Newham Council said they weren't aware Abid and Noor were a couple until he was arrested. "They have never been dealt with by our housing service as a couple."
Abid, jailed for brainwashing Muslim boys as young as 11, was arrested with two other men. According to reports, the 27-year-old wanted to train youngsters to drive cars "like Mujahideen" and arm them with weapons to attack places such as the Big Ben, Heathrow Airport and Westfield shopping center.
Abid was born and raised in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and he moved to London in 2010. Two years later he married Noor and in 2013 he was given a one-bedroom flat in a tower block in Manor Park.
Abid told jurors: "She wanted to maintain her independence from myself and, number two, because of her health conditions."
