Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Teen becomes youngest woman jailed in UK for terrorism

A London teenager was jailed for life on Friday for plotting a terror attack, becoming the youngest woman to be sentenced for terrorism offences in Britain.

Safaa Boular, 18, who together with her mother and elder sister formed the country's first all-female cell linked to the Islamic State group, will spend a minimum of 13 years in prison.


She had planned violent attacks in the British capital, using coded language themed around a tea party, after UK authorities stopped her travelling to Syria to marry an IS fighter she had met online.

"However much she may have been influenced and drawn into her extremism, it appeared she knew what she was doing and acted with open eyes," said Judge Mark Dennis in sentencing her at London's Old Bailey.

"Her views were deeply entrenched," he added, rejecting claims she had renounced extremism.

In June sibling Rizlaine Boular, 22, was also jailed for life, with a minimum term of 16 years, while their Morocco-born mother Mina Dich was handed a minimum sentence of six years and nine months for aiding the plots.

Safaa Boular was only 16 when she made contact with British-born IS fighter Naweed Hussain, 32, discussing marriage and how they would don his-and-hers suicide belts.

But her hopes of joining him were dashed when she was stopped at the airport in August 2016 following a family trip to Morocco, and her passport was confiscated.

'Family with murderous intent'

Instead Boular decided to plan an attack in Britain, detailing it in coded language -- such as using "pineapples" for grenades -- to online contacts, who were in fact undercover agents.

Hussain was later killed in a drone strike.

When Boular was charged with preparing terrorist acts in April 2017, she handed responsibility to her sister Rizlaine, 22, and their mother Mina Dich, 44, who hatched their own plan.

The trio were taped talking about an Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party, which the prosecution argued was code for an attack.

Rizlaine Boular and Dich were arrested after being tracked by police visiting potential sites around Westminster and buying knives.

They pleaded guilty to terror offences, but Safaa Boular denied involvement in the plot.

She remained expressionless as she was jailed Friday for two counts of preparing terrorist acts after being found guilty at trial in June.

Dean Haydon, Britain's top counter-terror police officer, said then the plot "involved a family with murderous intent, the first all-female terrorist plot in the UK connected to Daesh (IS)".

He added: "All three women were filled with hate and toxic ideology and were determined to carry out a terrorist attack.

"Had they been successful, it could well have resulted in people being killed or seriously injured."

More For You

Harsimrat Randhawa

The victim, Harsimrat Randhawa, was studying at Mohawk College in Hamilton. (Photo credit: Hamilton Police)

Hamilton Police

Indian student dies in Canada after being hit by stray bullet

A 21-YEAR-OLD Indian student was killed in Ontario, Canada, after being hit by a stray bullet while waiting at a bus stop on her way to work.

The victim, Harsimrat Randhawa, was studying at Mohawk College in Hamilton.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bangladesh-Pakistan

The meeting took place days ahead of Pakistani deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar's scheduled visit to Dhaka on April 27 and 28. (Photo: X/@ForeignOfficePk)

Bangladesh, Pakistan resume top-level talks after 15 years

BANGLADESH on Thursday raised several longstanding concerns with Pakistan, including a public apology over the 1971 atrocities, during the first foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries in 15 years.

Bangladesh also asked Pakistan to pay USD 4.3 billion as its share of undivided assets from when East Pakistan became independent Bangladesh in 1971.

Keep ReadingShow less
Keir Starmer

Starmer thanked Christians for their community work, including support through night shelters, youth clubs, toddler groups, family services, elderly care and chaplaincy. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer thanks Christians for community work in Easter message

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer extended Easter wishes to Christians across the UK, marking the end of Lent and the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In his Easter message, Starmer said the story of Easter is central to the Christian faith. He acknowledged Christians facing hardship, persecution or conflict globally who cannot celebrate freely.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump-Charles

Trump previously made a state visit to the UK in 2019 during his first term as president. (Photo: Getty Images)

Trump says he expects to meet King Charles in September

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump said on Thursday he expects to meet King Charles in the UK in September. It would be an unprecedented second state visit for Trump, which the British government hopes will strengthen ties between the two countries.

Prime minister Keir Starmer delivered an invitation from King Charles to Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office in February. The meeting focused on tariffs and the situation in Ukraine.

Keep ReadingShow less
Blackburn with Darwen vows to tackle mental health taboos among Asians

Efforts are being made to improve mental health service uptake among Asians

Blackburn with Darwen vows to tackle mental health taboos among Asians

BLACKBURN with Darwen will spend an additional £1.17 million over the next five years on tackling mental health in the borough, with an emphasis on reaching young people and residents of south Asian heritage, writes Bill Jacobs.

The worse than national average figures were set out in a report to senior councillors. Council leader Phil Riley told the meeting last Thursday (10) that figures in the survey, especially for young people, were shocking.

Keep ReadingShow less