Plan to poison Prince George's ice cream revealed by accused terrorist

A man accused of terrorism offences spoke of a plan to target Prince George and the Royal Family by poisoning ice cream, a court has heard.

Sahayb Abu, 27, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of buying an 18in (46cm) sword and balaclavas as he planned a terror attack during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The court heard how, when talking to an undercover police officer, Abu spoke of the plan to target Prince George and other members of the Royal Family, which ended in a person getting sentenced to 28 years in prison.

In a recording of the conversation from last year played to the jury, Abu can be heard saying: "They're trynna make it out as if he [the person jailed] was targeting the baby, he was targeting the family, the Royal Family.

"You know what his plan was? Say like the Royal Family house is there, go to the nearest Sainsbury's and… put poison in the ice creams so the Royal Family will go and buy the ice creams from there.

"They're gonna go buy some ice creams and then most likely the son will eat it."

Abu was arrested on 9 July last year.

The court also heard how unemployed Abu tried to persuade the undercover officer to smuggle a firearm into the country from north Africa.

This came after the accused spoke of targeting an imam in Buckinghamshire.

He told the officer that his target was an imam from the shia sect, who are considered apostates by extremists such as Islamic State.

"I know his masjid [mosque] everything. I know exactly where he is," he told the officer.

"He's in Buckinghamshire and it's not a poor area, you know. It's a wealthy area. All these shia they live in wealthy areas, all in west London, up in Buckinghamshire, know what I mean?"

The next day, Abu bought the gladiator-style sword, a combat vest, two balaclavas, fingerless gloves and a combat-style hat as he allegedly prepared his attack.

Abu, of Dagenham, east London, denies preparing terrorist acts.

His brother Muhamed Abu, 31, of south Norwood, southeast London, denies failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism.

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