UK: Tarik Hassane pleads guilty to London moped terror plot

A man has admitted an Islamic State-inspired plot to target civilians in London in a series of 'drive-by shootings' on a moped. Tarik Hassane, 22, from west London, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to conspiracy to murder and preparation of terrorist acts.

The charges state that he conspired with three other co-accused to murder "a person or persons unknown" between 8 July and 25 September 2014. They are said to have researched, planned and sourced a weapon and ammunition with a "view to committing an attack or attacks on a person or persons within the United Kingdom".

Hassane planned to kill soldiers, police officers and civilians on the streets of the capital. Three co-defendants, Nyall Hamlett, 25, Nathan Cuffy, 26, and Suhaib Majeed, 21 all from west London, are also charged with firearms offences.

They were first arrested on Tuesday 7 October during a series of dawn raids across London. Medical student Hassane, dubbed 'The Surgeon' and three other suspects were Tasered before being detained on suspicion the group was preparing acts of terror. The swoop was part of an ongoing investigation into Islamist-related terrorism.

At the time of the raids, Met Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe described the arrests as a "quite serious case".

The men are alleged to have "set up methods of secret communications" to plan an attack using mopeds for a possible drive-by shooting. It is also alleged they possessed extreme jihadist material, including articles with graphic images of the beheading of Steven Sotloff.

The three co-defendants deny the charges against them, Sky News reports. The case is adjourned until Monday 15 February.