A woman convicted of planning a bomb attack during the Christmas season is seeking early release from prison after serving just seven years. Rowaida El-Hassan, 33, was sentenced in 2018 for her involvement with Munir Mohammed, 36, whom she met on a Muslim dating site. The couple shared extremist content shortly after meeting, with El-Hassan stockpiling chemicals as Mohammed learned bomb-making techniques from online sources related to the Manchester Arena attacker.
El-Hassan received a 17-year prison sentence in 2018, including 12 years in jail and a five-year extended licence. Despite this, she is now pursuing avenues for release, denying responsibility for the crime. She contested a Parole Board decision that rejected her release, arguing that her denial was the primary reason for the refusal and failed to consider other factors indicating reduced risk. It was revealed that she had been communicating with Mohammed clandestinely while incarcerated.
Barbarah Mensah, representing the Parole Board, denied El-Hassan’s appeal. Mohammed, who had contacted an Islamic State commander through Facebook, had learned bomb-making techniques from YouTube videos, similar to the Manchester Arena attacker. Authorities suspected he was planning to contaminate food products at a factory supplying major retailers like Tesco and Morrisons.
Additionally, Mohammed had acquired access to an army base using a soldier’s pass left in a vehicle. Originally sentenced to a life term with a minimum of 14 years, his minimum sentence was later increased to 21 years by Judge Michael Topolski, QC. Mohammed arrived in the UK as a Sudanese refugee and sought asylum in 2014, eventually working at a food processing plant in Derby.
Meanwhile, El-Hassan, a qualified pharmacist, attracted Mohammed’s interest through her dating profile. Their relationship progressed rapidly, with El-Hassan advising Mohammed on bomb-making materials. Their communication included coded discussions on social media about planning a terrorist act in the UK. The court also heard that Mohammed sought assistance with immigration matters from a local Member of Parliament.