Muslim convert wanted to ‘blow St. Paul’s Cathedral to the ground’

Safiyya Amira Shaikh, a 37-year-old mother from Hayes in west London, she said wanted to “destroy” the historic monument, and carried out a reconnaissance mission to fine-tune her plot.

But her plans were thwarted when she confided in an associate on a secret messaging app, unaware that he was working undercover.

Shaikh pleaded guilty to preparation of terrorist acts and dissemination of terrorist publications on Telegram.

During a sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey on Monday, prosecutor Alison Morgan QC described Shaikh – born Michelle Ramsden, and appearing in the dock wearing a black hijab – as “a violent extremist who pledged her support for Islamic State”.

Ms Morgan said: “She engaged with others, who she believed to be of a similar mindset, to instigate and plan a terrorist attack involving the use of improvised explosives to attack St Paul’s Cathedral and a hotel nearby.

“In furtherance of her attack plan, she visited the cathedral to assess its security arrangement and the best place to detonate a bomb.

“She stated that her intention was to kill herself and as many other people as possible.”

The court heard that Shaikh travelled to central London on September 7 2019, ready to attend morning prayers at St Paul’s the next day in order to scope out security protocol and work out how to carry out her plan, with the ultimate aim of achieving martyrdom.

The court heard she confessed online: “I would like bomb (sic) and shoot til death.

“But if that not possible I do other way. Belt or anything. I just want a lot to die. InshaAllah.”

She said the plot was the “best opportunity of my life”, and described to the undercover officer how she could borrow her daughter’s non-Islamic clothes in an effort to avoid suspicion.

Shaikh said there was little attention from security during her reconnaissance visit, which lasted around an hour, telling the undercover officer: “This most famous church to King and Queen. All there (sic) weddings been there hundreds of years.

“I really thought it would not be possible. But it easy.”

She added: “I want do something in hotel and church. Than (sic) run and kill kuffar (non-Muslims) everywhere I see them until am shot down.

“Is this possible. And to get weapons.

“If I had choice I blow the church to ground. With kuffar in it.”

The court heard that Shaikh – who would go on to ask the undercover officer the date of the September 11 terror attacks – had converted to Islam in 2007 after being impressed by the kindness of a local Muslim family.

But she became increasingly disillusioned by what she saw as the mosques’ moderate version of Islam.

The attack was initially intended to be carried out at Christmas that year, but was then put off until Easter to give her time to “sort everything”.

On September 24 last year, she met the associate’s wife – also an undercover officer – in Uxbridge to hand over her bags, believing they could be fashioned into explosives.

Then, on October 13, the female undercover officer cancelled a second meeting and police forced their way into Shaikh’s flat to arrest her.

In police interview, the defendant, who claimed benefits, admitted posting extremist material and the plot, although she said she may not have gone through with it.

The sentencing hearing continues.