A close associate of the British Al-Qaeda leader Dhiren Barot, Abdul Aziz Jalil, is set to be released despite concerns of potential future offenses. The Justice Secretary made a final effort to prevent Jalil, now 53, from being freed after the Parole Board approved his release. Jalil was sentenced to 26 years in 2007 for his involvement in an Al-Qaeda sleeper cell aiding Barot in planning bomb plots in New York and London, but he will now be discharged after serving 19 years.
Recent records show that Jalil has been released from prison twice before, with his latest recall in March last year for violating his parole by searching for weapons and drones online and engaging in a Reddit forum. The Parole Board’s judicial member, HHJ Jeremy Roberts KC, stated that there was a distinction between Jalil’s interest in military materials and any terrorist intentions. HHJ Roberts rejected the Justice Secretary’s plea to review the decision for Jalil’s release, deeming it illogical.
While acknowledging concerns about Jalil’s potential re-engagement in serious activities, HHJ Roberts found no fault with the Parole Board’s verdict. Jalil will now be freed under strict counter-terror surveillance. He was one of seven individuals imprisoned in 2007 for a total of 136 years, with a 26-year sentence for his role as Barot’s “minder.” Jalil admitted guilt to conspiracy charges related to bomb plots between 2001 and 2004, along with his accomplices who provided support to Barot.
Jalil, a resident of Luton, facilitated Barot by renting a safe house for planning materials and being involved in research on radioactivity. Barot, also known as Esa al-Britani and Abu Eissa al-Hindi, was described as a senior figure in Osama bin Laden’s network and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2006. Barot’s plan included targeting financial institutions in New York and Washington with explosives, mirroring the 9/11 attacks. He has a history of association with Islamist militant groups and received training in Afghanistan.
Barot’s parents moved to the UK from Kenya in 1973 to escape violence and discrimination when he was a year old. He was sent to the US by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a bin Laden associate, as detailed in the 9/11 Commission report. Barot converted to Islam at 20 and participated in Mujahideen activities in Afghanistan before fighting against Indian forces.
