Osama bin London Convicted

Above: Osama bin London

A court in London has convicted seven men involved in terrorist training which they referred to as “camping weekends” wherein young Muslims are brought to English parks around Britain; they were trained to throw imaginary grenades, to stage mock ambushes with rifles fashioned from branches and to chop watermelons in simulated beheadings.

Their leader Mohammed Hamid (pictured above) has called himself Osama bin London since 2004. Hamid is a 50-year-old Tanzanian who lives in London as a mosque preacher. One of his teachings, as reported, convinced young Muslims to murder “nonbelievers.”

Hamid is a well known figure in London because of his frequent speeches at the famous Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park. He is considered as one of the most prominent recruiters for Islamist extremism in the UK.

Him and 6 other members were caught on video by undercover police officers in a joint effort between the Scotland Yard and domestic intelligence agency MI5. The officials listened in on most of his “preaching sessions” at the Speakers’ Corner, their late night meetings in his east London home and in his Islamic bookstore. One of the filmed “trainings” was attended by the four men who were convicted in a failed suicide bombing attempt of London’s public transit system last July of 2005.

According to reports, Mr. Hamid had told his co-plotters that he has already scheduled several attacks against Britain before the 2012 Olympics takes place in London.

In his defense, Hamid said that he was only trying to offer the young Muslims support because they were vulnerable in the wake of 9/11.

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