Leeds hospital bomb trial: Patient tried to cheer up accused

A jury has heard that a former patient dissuaded a man from detonating a bomb in a hospital in Leeds after noticing him distressed.

The 28-year-old suspect in the St James's Hospital terror attack, Mohammed Farooq, was "agitated" when Nathan Newby stated that he attempted to "cheer him up".

Farooq disclosed to Mr. Newby his intention to exact vengeance on the hospital through the detonation of a pressure cooker device.

Farooq, appearing before the Sheffield Crown Court, disavows any involvement in the planning of terrorist acts.

Near Harrogate, Farooq of Roundhay is additionally charged with plotting a terrorist attack at the United States base at RAF Menwith Hill.

According to an interview presented in court, Mr. Newby informed law enforcement officers that he observed the defendant in the early hours of January 20 as he was returning to St James's.

He stated that he simply appeared distressed, as if he had received some awfully terrible news.

Mr. Newby decided to cross over and inquire whether he is in an acceptable condition and mentioned that if he was feeling down, he intended to do his best to brighten him up.

Mohammed Farooq's apprehension at St. James's Hospital has been documented on video.

The video, which was presented to the jury at Sheffield Crown Court last week but made public on Monday, depicts Farooq disclosing to armed police that he was dissuaded from detonating a device by a patient.

The defendant, according to Mr. Newby, stated that he was either a student or a former employee of the hospital for two years, but "he's lost everything and just wanted them back for what they did."

Farooq informed him that the item he was transporting in his satchel was a bomb and that he intended to enter the hospital cafeteria.

According to Mr. Newby, in an effort to reassure Farooq and remove him from the hospital entrance, he escorted him to a bench for “so many hours" of conversation.

According to Mr. Newby, Farooq ultimately declared his intention to surrender and handed him his phone in order to dial 999. During the emergency situation, Farooq retrieved a handgun, which subsequently demonstrated to be a counterfeit.

The prosecution informed the jury that the pressure cooker explosive in Farooq's possession was a functional apparatus, bearing resemblance to one that was utilised in the 2013 Boston Marathon attacks.

Farooq has admitted to several other offences, including the possession of a pressure cooker bomb "with the intention to endanger life or cause severe injury to property," despite his denial of plotting terrorist acts.

Additionally, it was disclosed to the jury that Farooq harboured resentment towards a number of his erstwhile colleagues at St James's Hospital and had engaged in a "poison pen campaign" against them.

According to sources, Gul Nawaz Hussain KC, the defence attorney, testified in court that his client was not radicalised and was "willing and able" to detonate the homemade device at the hospital out of "resentment and animosity" towards coworkers.

Hussain KC further stated that his client was not driven by Islamist extremism.