EXCLUSIVE Toff terrorist could be let out from prison: Parole board is considering release of ex-public schoolboy who plotted suicide bombing on shopping centre
One of Britain's most dangerous terrorists could soon be back on the streets, MailOnline can reveal.
Former public schoolboy Andrew Michael, known as Isa Ibrahim after he converted to Islam, was jailed aged 20 when he was found to be plotting a suicide bomb attack on Bristol's Broadmead shopping centre.
However, far from having a tough upbringing, the terrorist who idolised Osama Bin Laden was the toff son of Christian church-going parents and lived in a £1million gated mansion in Bristol.
His father Dr Nassif Ibrahim was an Egyptian-born NHS consultant pathologist at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol and his elder brother Peter graduated from Jesus College, Oxford, and became a software engineer.
But Ibrahim fell under the spell of Muslim radicals such as the 7/7 bombers, Abu Hamza and Omar Bakri Muhammad after watching recordings of their speeches on the internet and converted to Islam.
He was unknown to police, and cops only arrested him in 2008 'a matter of hours or days' before he was about to blow himself up with a suicide vest created using internet instructions after a tip-off from the local Muslim community.
On July 16, 2009, he was convicted at Winchester Crown Court of making an explosive with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury and preparation of terrorist acts. He was sentenced to an indeterminate prison sentence with a minimum term of ten years.
Only three years ago in 2022, he was denied parole on the basis that he was still a danger to society.
The now-36-year-old could soon taste freedom after the Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood referred Ibrahim's case to the Parole Board, which is considering whether to release him.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'We can confirm the parole review of Isa Ibrahim has been referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice and is following standard processes.
'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
'A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.
'Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.
'Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.
'It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.'
'A decision on Ibrahim's case is expected over coming weeks.'
Brought up in a luxury gated mansion in the leafy Bristol suburb of Frenchay, Ibrahim seemed set for a prosperous life.
But his unruly behaviour and developing drug habit began to take their toll.
By the time he was arrested, Ibrahim was a regular hard-drug user who was expelled from three different private schools and had first experimented with cannabis when he was just 12 years old.
Ibrahim was first expelled from £19,065-a-year Colston's School before being thrown out of the £9,885-a-year Queen Elizabeth Hospital school in Bristol aged 12 for smoking cannabis.
He moved to writer Auberon Waugh's former school, the £24,141-a-year strict Roman Catholic Downside School in Bath as a boarder, but was expelled for drinking alcohol in the dorm and going missing.
He ended up at the £7,500-a-year Bristol Cathedral School, where he passed nine GCSEs with good grades.
While a student at the City of Bristol College, he made explosives and a suicide vest in his flat and carried out extensive surveillance at Broadmead shopping centre in Bristol, where he planned to cause the maximum damage by using nails and ball bearings in his bomb.
He bought the main components for the suicide bomb from high street shops, including branches of Boots.
A bomb disposal expert stands by an area cordoned off for a controlled explosion outside Ibrahim's home in 2008
Thirty of Ibrahim's neighbours were evacuated and a controlled explosion was carried out following the raid at 2am on April 18, 2008
Ibrahim was only caught after members of the Al-Baseera mosque in Bristol saw injuries he suffered while testing the explosive and, concerned about his extreme views and what he may be planning, told police that a white Muslim convert was acting suspiciously.
It is believed to have been the first time that the Muslim community had played a central role in bringing a potential terrorist bomber to justice.
When police entered his flat in Comb Paddock, Bristol, police found between 125 and 245g of the unstable explosive Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine, also known as HMTD, the same substance used in the July 7, 2005 London bombings.
He had stored it in a McVitie's Family Circle biscuit tin in Ibrahim's fridge.
There was so much explosive powder in his flat that the kitchen floor crackled under their feet.
Ibrahim had also made an electrical circuit capable of detonating the explosive at short range.
Police also found a half-made suicide vest and films of Ibrahim testing the explosives on the floor of his flat.
Ibrahim made the HMTD and his suicide vest entirely through instructions from the internet.
Soldiers from the Royal Logistic Corps also had to carry out controlled explosions at his home.
There was also a large amount of radical literature in the flat and when he was arrested the book Milestones by Sayyid Qutb was in his rucksack. The book advocates jihad and radical Islam.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Iddon said: 'It soon became very, very clear that his kitchen had become an explosive laboratory.'
DCI Iddon said Ibrahim had planned to set his suicide vest off in a crowded area of the shopping centre.
He said: 'He identified that the food court was a dense area. It's full of families – husband, wives, children, groups of young friends – relaxing and enjoying the day.
'He intended to blow himself up there.'
He added: 'He was not on any security services radar. He was completely unknown.'
When he was arrested, Ibrahim told officers: 'My mum's going to kill me. Am I going to be on the news?'
His father Nassif, mother Victoria and brother Peter were in court every day for the trial 16 years ago.
At Ibrahim's trial, where he denied the charges, he said he had trouble interacting and making friends, and admitted even as an adult he talked to teddy bears.
Even as he was detained in Belmarsh prison, he thought it would 'give him status' to be in the same jail as the likes of hate cleric Abu Hamza.
He claimed he had no intent to harm but just wanted to set the vest off and film.
Trial judge Judge Mr Justice Butterfield told the terrorist: 'You were, in my judgment, a lonely and angry young person at the time of these events, with a craving for attention.
'You are a dangerous young man, well capable of acting on the views you held in the spring of 2008.'
His mother fled the court in tears as the sentence was passed and since he was jailed his family have regularly visited him in prison.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
Petition questioning jail sentences for online posts hits target
A petition calling for an urgent review of sentencing after a woman was jailed for a racist social media post has hit its target of 100,000 signatures in under 24 Connolly, from Northampton, was jailed for 31 months in October after urging her followers on X to "set fire" to hotels housing asylum seekers on the day of the Southport UK MP Rupert Lowe's online petition said prison terms for cases of "opinion-based online speech" caused "serious public concern" and alternative sanctions would be more appeal was rejected in May, with the Court of Appeal ruling there was "no arguable basis" that her prison sentence was excessive. The 41-year-old childminder, the wife of a Conservative councillor, posted the swearword-ridden message on 29 July 2024, the day three girls were murdered at a dance class in calling for "mass deportations now", she wrote: "If that makes me racist, so be it."She urged readers to set fire to "all the hotels" that were "full" of those she wished to post had been deleted before Connolly was arrested on 6 August but had already been viewed 310,000 who represents Great Yarmouth as an Independent, said the jailing of Connolly was "morally repugnant" and his petition had the full support of her husband, Ray."Lucy, and others like her, should not be in prison for foolish things they posted on the internet," said Lowe in a post on X."It's all just so disgusting, and if I can use my elected position to do anything, it has to be worth a go." The petition says imprisoning individuals for posts on social media "sets a dangerous precedent and raises wider questions about freedom of expression, proportionality in sentencing, and the misuse of limited prison resources."The day after Connolly's appeal was rejected, Sir Keir Starmer said he was in favour of free speech and against inciting violence after Lowe used Prime Minister's Questions to ask if her jail term was an "efficient or fair" use of prison.A UK Government and Parliament petition that attains 100,000 signatures is assessed by the Petitions Committee for its level of support and whether the government could act on its demands. If approved for consideration, it is then debated in Westminster Hall. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
33 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Instant karma! Shocking moment teen gang hurl chairs at restaurant waiters - before one of the attackers gets more than he bargained for
A teen was served instant karma as he was forced to quickly flee after hurling chairs at two restaurant workers as a 'gang of 30 teens' watched on. A shocking video has emerged online of a around 30 youngsters attacking a family restaurant in the seaside Kent town of Broadstairs. The 59-second clip shows a gaggle of yobs storming towards a Italian restaurant, Sardinia, as two staff members appear at the workplace's doorway. Another youth then pushes one of the men as tensions escalate with another teenager picking up a chair and launching it towards a glass pane. As another unidentified item is hurled through the air, the young man picks up a chair and throws it at a staff member, armed with a black chair. Seemingly working in tandem, a separate teen then slams a chair towards the same waiter standing in the doorway, as horrified customers watch on in horror. The previous yob circles back again, as both he and the workman hurl black chairs in each others direction. But karma came around quickly, as a separate staff member emerges from the restaurant and chases one of the teens down the road. Loud shouting could be heard from the group of unruly youngsters as the yob raced away from down the seaside street away from the restaurant worker. It is believed the group of teens were chasing another young person who had hid inside the family restaurant for safety. Restaurant manager, Tony, said four or five tables of guests were inside when the incident transpired. He told The Sun: 'They were trying to get to this boy who they already attacked to beat him again. 'We let him inside and shut the doors, but they attacked the staff and threw chairs. 'He was half their size, I don't know why they would want to do this - there were about 30 of them.' The restaurant boss also spoke of his dismay that the teen's parents had not been in touch following the attack. Another business in the town also had its window broken amid reports of street fights, underage drinking, and bottles being thrown at beach huts as well as thefts. A dispersal order was also issued by police throughout the town following a day of chaos in the town. The force also responded to reports from incidents in the town's train station. A spokesperson for Kent Police said: 'Kent Police is aware of incidents of anti-social behaviour in the Broadstairs area including under-age street drinking, fighting and reports of aggressive behaviour towards staff at shops and restaurants during the evening of Thursday 19 June 2025. 'Officers attended and three arrests were made on suspicion of offences relating to public order, assault and criminal damage. 'Two boys aged 16 and 17, and a 15-year old girl, all from Thanet, have since been released on bail pending further enquiries. 'Officers are currently investigating these incidents, and a dispersal order has been implemented due to ongoing concerns relating to issues caused by a small minority of young people in some public areas including the town centre and beaches. 'We fully understand that residents may be concerned about incidents of crime and disorder committed by the minority, however they should feel reassured that local officers will be on patrol in the area to provide a visible presence to prevent offences from occurring.' Dispersal orders give officers extra powers to stop and search individuals under Section 60 of the Public Order Act. It also give them the authority to move groups of people form an area.
Telegraph
37 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Don't trust two-tier Keir on Palestine Action. He hasn't turned sound
If a mystic with a crystal ball asked you last week to guess which political leader would try to ban a group with 'Palestine' in the name, you'd have plumped for Donald Trump. Turns out, however, it was Keir Starmer. I speak of Palestine Action, the neo-Corbynite clowns who infiltrated RAF Brize Norton on electric scooters to sabotage strategic aircraft. The Government says it will ban them as terrorists for their trouble. Has the Prime Minster finally gone sound? Has he heck. The petulant hoodlums will complain that unlike Hamas and the other groups on the list, they weren't trying to bomb anybody. That argument will probably prevail; the ban must win the support of both MPs and peers before coming into force, so it may never materialise. No, it's all about the headlines. Nigel Farage demanded that Palestine Action be proscribed in the morning and by the afternoon, Starmer had claimed the oxygen for his own. This created the impression that the Government takes our national security seriously, stands against the irritating Gaza radicals and is determined to crack down on treason. No need to vote Reform then, eh? He's a slippery fish, that prime minister. This is the most unprincipled government in living memory and its playbook is always the same. Wrongfoot and gaslight the public while advancing an agenda that nobody has voted for. Mark my words. After this, Starmer's betrayal of Israel will continue apace. Take the child sex gangs. The inquiry was a controlled explosion of a political landmine with senior Labour figures protected by spin. Meanwhile, this was Death Week, with infanticide and geronticide, neither of which were in Labour's manifesto, forced through the Commons. Thus the Government emerges as the shadowy winner while the country and its despairing people have lost. The same pattern can be seen in everything from the economy to immigration and defence. Starmer talks tough, cracks out a little U-turn, then when the heat has passed, pushes on with his agenda, making superficial modifications to throw us off the scent. Last week, for instance, it emerged that our rising defence budget will also fund Heathrow's third runway, reduce food prices and bolster supply chains. The Prime Minister told us he was serious about defending the realm, but he didn't really mean it. The Palestine Action episode is the same. This government is now the most Israelophobic since the Fifties. It has suspended arms export licences while continuing to provide them to the repressive regimes of Qatar, Turkey and Egypt. It has sanctioned objectionable Israeli ministers while leaving far more chauvinistic regional figures untouched. The Tunisian president, for example, demands 'all the land of Palestine' for the Arabs. No two-state solution there. No British sanctions, either. It has presided over crackdowns on free speech and two-tier policing of the Gaza mobs. Just as sensible voters reach the end of their tether, however, Sir Keir throws sand in their eyes on Palestine Action. Now it is the turn of his Corbynite Left to feel the burn. But this is nothing more than an exercise in damage limitation; as always, the pendulum will swing back the other way, only – crucially – not as far as its original position. Thus public rage is subdued while the Overton Window creeps inexorably leftwards. You can feel it, can't you? You know you're being conned but you can't quite put your finger on it. As the months pass, a browbeaten and confused electorate finds the country drifting away beneath its feet, little by little becoming unrecognisable.
