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A clinical support worker has pleaded guilty to terrorism offences ahead of his trial for allegedly planning an attack on a maternity hospital in Leeds and an RAF station in North Yorkshire.

Mohammad Farooq, 27, from Roundhay in Leeds, is accused of taking a pressure cooker bomb to St James's Hospital in Leeds after a failed attempt to launch a terrorist attack on RAF Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire, motivated by an interest in radical Islam.

Mr Justice Hilliard told a jury panel for a trial, which is due to open on Thursday: "This trial is about an alleged plan to target RAF Menwith Hill and then St James's Hospital in an alleged terrorist attack."

Farooq was arrested in the early hours of 20 January outside the maternity ward at St James's Hospital, following a call from a member of the public.

At a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court, Farooq pleaded guilty to four related charges.

He accepted he was in possession of an explosive substance in suspicious circumstances under section four of the Explosive Substances Act 1883.

The charges say he had an improvised explosive device manufactured from a pressure cooker and 9.9kg of a low explosive mixture, along with 3.8kg of a low explosive mixture, as well as pyrotechnic fuses.

He also accepted he had an imitation firearm with criminal intent between 18 and 21 January this year, namely a Gediz 9mm PAK semi-automatic pistol, with intent to resist or prevent his arrest.

He also accepted he possessed the same imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence under section 16 of the Firearms Act 1968.

In one further charge, Farooq accepted he was in possession of a document useful for terrorism, between 23 November last year and 21 January this year, namely a series of notes stored in the memory of a mobile telephone that contained viable instructions for the manufacture of the toxic substances ricin, sarin, VX, tabun and tetrodotoxin.

Not guilty plea

Farooq pleaded not guilty to preparing acts of terrorism between 12 July 2021 and 21 January 2023 and will face trial on that charge later this week.

He is said to have acquired a document titled "Safety and Security Guidelines for Lone Wolf Mujahideen and Small Cells" and material containing instructions on how to manufacture or assemble an improvised explosive device.

Farooq is then said to have acquired an explosive substance, components and equipment and to have manufactured or assembled an improvised explosive device.

The charges also say he researched and acquired an imitation firearm that was readily capable of being converted to fire live ammunition, as well as acquiring two knives and black tape.

Farooq 'used internet to identify potential targets'

Farooq allegedly used the internet to identify and research potential targets for an attack and acquired images, plans and maps of potential locations for an attack before conducting reconnaissance of potential locations for an attack and, between 19 and 20 January, travelled to locations in order to carry out an attack.

Farooq is also accused of possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, cause serious injury or damage property, between 18 and 21 January this year.

It is said he "unlawfully and maliciously" had in his possession or under his control an improvised explosive device manufactured from a pressure cooker.