Judge Timothy Pontius concluded that Brusthom Ziamani, 19, would have carried out the attack had he not been stopped by police in east London. He had researched the location of army cadet bases and was carrying a 12-inch (30-centimeter) knife and a hammer.
Hours before being stopped, he had told his former girlfriend he would "kill soldiers" and described Michael Adebolajo, the killer of Fusilier Lee Rigby, as a "legend." Raised by Jehovah's Witness parents, Ziamani converted to Islam early in 2014. His parents kicked him out of their south London home after his conversion to Islam, and he then turned to the mosque for help for clothes and a place to stay.
Within months, he posted comments on Facebook proclaiming his willingness to "die in the cause of Allah."
"Sharia law on its way on our streets," he said. "We will implement it, it's part of our religion." He denied planning a copycat atrocity and said his postings were an effort to fit in.
"I did not believe it," he said. "I wanted to fit in with these people because they were giving me places to stay and they did not like moderate Islam.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
