Leeds: Mohammed Farooq admits possessing device at St James's Hospital

A bomb disposal team was called to St James's Hospital in Leeds on 20 January

A clinical support worker accused of planning terrorist attacks on a hospital and an RAF base has admitted possessing a pressure cooker bomb.

Mohammed Farooq, 27, is accused of targeting St James's Hospital in Leeds and RAF Menwith Hill near Harrogate in North Yorkshire.

At a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court he denied preparing acts of terrorism, or intending to endanger life, but admitted having the explosive device.

His trial is due to begin on Thursday.

Mr Justice Nicholas Hilliard told potential jurors the defendant was accused of "an alleged plan to target RAF Menwith Hill... and St James's Hospital... in a terrorist attack".

Mr Farooq, of Hetton Road, Roundhay, Leeds, was arrested in the grounds of the hospital, where he worked, on 20 January.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts and possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.

Mohammed Farooq worked at the hospital

The prosecution allege between July 2021 and January 2023 he had engaged in "manufacturing or assembling an improvised explosive device".

He is also accused of travelling to locations between 19 and 20 January "in order to carry out an attack" and conducted reconnaissance of "potential locations for attack".

Mr Farooq did enter a guilty plea to a charge of possessing an explosive substance in suspicious circumstances, which states between 18 and 21 January he had an "improvised explosive device manufactured from a pressure cooker and 9.9kg of a low explosive mixture".

The defendant also admitted possessing a document containing information likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism.

He also admitted two charges relating to the possession of an imitation firearm.