Calm, kind and brave... watch moment hero patient talks down armed terrorist ready to bomb Leeds hospital

Incredible footage shows the moment a hero who saved the lives of countless NHS staff and patients calmly talking down an armed terrorist who was ready to bomb a Leeds hospital.

Nathan Newby was stood outside St James' Hospital in Leeds in the early hours of January 20 having a cigarette when he came across Mohammad Farooq as he prepared to set off the pressure cooker bomb he had made.

Footage released by Counter Terrorism Policing North East shows Mr Newby - who was a patient at the hospital at the time - asking Farooq: "What were your intentions then?"

Read more: Leeds terrorist hospital worker ready to 'kill as many nurses as possible' with bomb found guilty

He adds: "If I hadn't bumped into you, what were your intentions?"

Farooq can be heard on the footage to say: "To let it off inside...I would have just done it in the kitchen." Mr Newby then asks: "Why do you think that's ok to do?" To which Farooq replies: "I don't know, I'd just had enough."

Jurors at Sheffield Crown Court took just two hours on Tuesday to find Farooq guilty of preparing an act of terrorism at the hospital. He had previously admitted firearms offences, possessing an explosive substance with intent and having a document likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism.

As he opened the trial in June, prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford said Farooq had immersed himself in an “extremist Islamic ideology” and went to the hospital to “seek his own martyrdom” through a “murderous terrorist attack."

Prosecutors said Farooq had originally intended to attack RAF Menwith Hill – a North Yorkshire military base used by the United States that had been identified as a target by so-called Islamic State.

When he thought that was not possible, jurors were told Farooq then switched to the “softer and less well-protected target” of St James’s Hospital in the early hours of January 20 last year. It was said his plan was to detonate the viable pressure cooker bomb, then kill as many people as possible with knives before using an imitation firearm to incite police to shoot them dead.

The 999 call made by Mr Newby has also been released by Counter Terrorism, during which he can be heard telling the call handler: "He's just pulled out the gun."

During the call, Mr Newby can be heard to say: "He was just about to kill a load of people...Outside St James' Hospital...Mate are you still alright yeah? Honestly mate, he's just pulled a gun out...You're doing the best thing mate. You can have my number mate, I will talk to you any time. Honestly mate."

Mr Newby was heard to say Farooq had what looked like a "pistol" on him. He added: "I don't want to touch it."

During the trial, defence barrister Gul Nawaz Hussain KC told Farooq was not an extremist but a “troubled man” who was motivated by “deep rooted anger and grievance” towards his colleagues.

Farooq will be sentenced at a later date.

LeedsLive has launched a WhatsApp community and anyone who joins will get the latest breaking news and top stories sent direct to their phone. To join click here.

If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time. We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here.