- Zahid Hussain was originally arrested in Birmingham in August 2015
- He was carrying handwritten bomb-making notes, a knife and crowbar
- Storm drain he was seen entering contained pressure cooker bomb, shrapnel and diesel fuel
- He tried to build explosive device in his bedroom where he also watched violent videos of bomb blasts on the internet
Zahid Hussain, 29, a radicalised ex-doorman who used adapted Christmas tree lights, shrapnel and a pressure cooker to improvise a bomb has been found guilty of terrorism
A radicalised ex-doorman who used adapted Christmas tree lights, shrapnel and a pressure cooker to improvise a bomb has been found guilty of terrorism.
Zahid Hussain, 29, tried to build the improvised explosive device in his bedroom where he also watched violent videos of bomb blasts on the internet.
He was originally arrested in Birmingham in August 2015 when he was spotted acting suspiciously in the street.
He was carrying handwritten notes detailing instructions for making bomb devices, along with a knife and crowbar when he was stopped by police.
When officers raided his home in the Alum Rock area of the city, they found his room littered with text books detailing guerrilla warfare techniques and small arms combat, further bomb making instructions and dismantled electrical items such as doorbells and alarm clocks.
Hussain was originally detained under the Mental Health Act, before being declared fit to stand trial in January 2016.
By that time, officers had also searched a storm drain he was seen entering and found the pressure cooker bomb, along with pieces of shrapnel and traces of diesel fuel.
The Christmas tree lights found at Hussain's address, in the Alum Rock area of Birmingham, had been adapted so each one could be used as an explosive initiator or detonator
Hussain was originally detained under the Mental Health Act, before being declared fit to stand trial in January 2016. By that time, officers had searched a storm drain he was seen entering and found the pressure cooker bomb (above), along with shrapnel and traces of diesel fuel
The former doorman was charged with Preparing for Acts of Terrorism, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.
During the trial, Birmingham Crown Court heard that Hussian, who was estranged from his wife and two children, had been acting suspiciously in the months leading up to his arrest.
He became withdrawn and isolated from his family and would spend hours of the day and night at his computer.
Chief Superintendent Matt Ward, head of counter terrorism for West Midlands Police, said: 'The initial searches of Hussain's room established he was in possession of component parts and materials which, if mixed with others, could form a viable explosive device.
'Forensic examination of the pressure cooker found it contained mixed urea, nails, drills bits, nuts, bolts, steel sockets and diesel fuel.
Hussain was originally arrested in Birmingham in August 2015 when he was spotted acting suspiciously in the street. He was carrying handwritten notes detailing instructions for making bomb devices, along with a knife and crowbar (pictured) when he was stopped by police
When officers raided Hussain's home, they found his room littered with text books detailing guerrilla warfare techniques and small arms combat, further bomb making instructions and dismantled electrical items such as doorbells (above) and alarm clocks
'There was no evidence of any intended target or specific attack. But by its very nature, this could have been an extremely dangerous device.
'The Christmas tree lights also found at his address had been adapted so each one could be used as an explosive initiator or detonator.
'Examination of his computer discovered browsing history relating to terrorism including bomb making and bomb blast injuries, showing he had a consistent and continued interest in terrorism and conflict.
'This was a significant and complex inquiry for WMCTU [West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit] to safely deal with these volatile items and seek to establish Hussain's motives for having them.'
Hussain is due to be sentenced at a later date.
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