A "self-radicalised lone wolf terrorist," Mohammad Farooq, has been found guilty of preparing terrorist acts after plotting attacks on a North Yorkshire military base and a hospital in Leeds.

Mohammad Farooq, 28, conducted extensive research on RAF Menwith Hill but ultimately decided against attacking the military base near Harrogate. Instead, he took a bomb to St James' Hospital in Leeds, aiming to "kill as many nurses as possible," according to prosecution barrister Jonathan Sandiford KC.

The plan was thwarted by Nathan Newby, a patient who noticed Farooq behaving suspiciously while having a cigarette outside the hospital. Sandiford stated, "That simple act of kindness almost certainly saved many lives that night because, as the defendant was later to tell the police officers who arrested him, Mr. Newby succeeded in 'talking him down'."

Farooq, who worked as a clinical support worker at the hospital, admitted to firearms offences, possessing an explosive substance with intent, and having a document useful for committing an act of terrorism. However, he denied preparing terrorist acts, with his defense counsel Gul Nawaz Hussain KC arguing that Farooq was not an extremist but a "troubled man" motivated by "deep-rooted anger and grievance" towards his colleagues.

After deliberating for less than two hours, the jury at Sheffield Crown Court convicted Farooq of the offence on Tuesday.

Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, commented, "Farooq is an extremely dangerous individual who amassed a significant amount of practical and theoretical information that enabled him to produce a viable explosive device. He then took that homemade explosive device to a hospital where he worked with the intention to cause serious harm. Examination of his electronic devices revealed a hatred towards his colleagues at work and those he considered non-believers."

David added, "It is clear from his internet searches that he was also conducting extensive research on RAF Menwith Hill, with a view to launching a potential attack. The extremist views Farooq holds are a threat to our society, and I am pleased the jury found him guilty of his crimes."

At the trial's start, Sandiford informed jurors that RAF Menwith Hill had been designated as a target by the so-called Islamic State due to its believed role in coordinating drone strikes against terrorists. Evidence showed that Farooq's mobile phone and car movements indicated he visited the Menwith Hill area at least twice in the ten days leading up to his arrest.

The jury learned that Farooq was arrested outside St James's Hospital in Leeds with a pressure cooker bomb designed to be twice as powerful as those used in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Farooq had immersed himself in "extremist Islamic ideology" and intended to "seek his own martyrdom" through a "murderous terrorist attack." Photo by Gledhow Wing - St James' Hospital by Betty Longbottom, Wikimedia commons.