‘Behead soldier' plot terror gang go free

THREE convicted terrorists who plotted to kidnap and behead a British Muslim soldier have been freed early from jail.

Hamid Elasmar, 46, Zahoor Iqbal, 32, and Mohammed Irfan, 33, were all caged less than two years ago.

they had been given between three and seven years for helping to plan the Birmingham kidnap of a squaddie, who they plotted to behead "like a pig" in a lock-up garage.

But the trio have now been released early for good behaviour.

During their trials, a court heard how the gang met at Elasmar's Edgbaston council flat to plot the release of video footage of the planned killing.

Plot mastermind Parviz Khan, 39 - now serving 14 years - was recorded by security services saying he intended to parade the soldier's head on a pole.

Khan told Elasmar: "We'll cut it off like you cut a pig, man. Then you put it on a stick. Then we throw the body, burn it, send the video."

Birmingham Central Mosque chairman Dr Mohammed Naseem aims to visit the men next week.
He said: "If they planned something like this they are in the wrong about their Islamic obligations. We would want to re-educate them."

Elasmar plus Iqbal, from Kingstanding, and Irfan, from Ward End, remain on a Bank of England watchlist restricting their bank accounts, freezing their assets and imposing caps on financial transactions.