LEADING AL QAEDA MEMBER CONVICTED

Rangzieb Ahmed

Habib Ahmed

A senior figure in Al-Qaeda has been convicted after an investigation by Greater Manchester Police's Counter-Terrorism Unit.

In the first UK conviction of its kind, Rochdale-born Rangzieb Ahmed, (born 23/08/1975) of Barnston Avenue, Fallowfield, was found guilty of directing a terrorist organisation, namely Al-Qaeda, membership of a terrorist organisation, namely Al-Qaeda and possession of an article for a purpose connected with terrorism, namely diaries containing leading terrorists' phone numbers.\

Habib Ahmed 29, (born 15/11/79) of Elmfield Street, Cheetham Hill, has been convicted of professing to being a member of Al-Qaeda, membership of Al-Qaeda and possession of a document or record containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, namely an article about explosives used in the Balfour House bombing.

"We don't know where Rangzieb's next target would have been, or what exactly he was working towards, but we are sure he was attack-planning.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Porter said: "This is a fantastic result for the people of Greater Manchester and the UK."Rangzieb Ahmed is a very dangerous man. He consorts with senior terrorist figures and has devoted his life to creating and working with terrorist networks.

We believe that he was intent on masterminding terrorist attacks and would have considered mass murder part of his duty."We don't know where Rangzieb's next target would have been, or what exactly he was working towards, but we are sure he was attack-planning.

"What we do know is that he and Habib Ahmed had close contact with Al-Qaeda's senior figures, and were arranging for British citizens to visit terrorist camps and meet those willing to fund terrorism.

"There is no doubt Rangzieb Ahmed was at the centre of the Al-Qaeda web, and was using his position to manipulate people, drawing them in too."Today's conviction is a significant success for the UK counter-terrorist effort, and reflects our hard work and commitment to combating the evolving terrorist threat.

We are grateful to the support of all the other agencies that have given crucial help to bring these people to justice."A team of specialist officers has worked extensively over the past three years to put this case together, and have been instrumental in disrupting and destabilising the senior levels of Al-Qaeda in doing so.

This result is a recognition of all their hard work."Greater Manchester Police remains committed to tackling terrorism, and relies on communities for their help and support in doing so.

Under the banner of 'if you suspect it, report it' officers encourage people with information about suspicious or unusual activity to call the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline number 0800 789321.