GUILTY: Rochdale terrorist worked for Al-Qaeda

Convicted terrorist Rangzieb Ahmed.

A Rochdale-born terrorist has become the first al Qaeda convict ever to be found guilty of directing terrorism.

Rangzieb Ahmed, 33, has been found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of directing and plotting with the terror group, along with fellow defendant Habib Ahmed.

Habib, 29, was caught with two diaries containing details of top al-Qaeda operatives, described in court as a terrorist's contact book. Fellow terrorists considered him as a ‘trusted and experiences operative’ and last year police thwarted his villainous attempts to set up a terror cell in Manchester.

Rangzieb and Habib, who are not related, stood trial before a Jury and were found guilty today (Thursday 18 December).

The court previously heard how counter-terrorism officers, who were monitoring the two men, had bugged the hotel room in Dubai where they made several coded references to al-Qaeda.

They also placed a probe in the taxi of Habib, who they continued to monitor when he returned to the UK.

Rangzieb returned to Pakistan in January 2006 to continue his ambitions as an international terrorist.

Both Rangzieb Ahmed and Habib Ahmed have been found guilty of possessing the diaries for purposes of terrorism and reportedly remained emotionless whilst hearing their condemning verdicts. They are to be sentenced tomorrow (19 December).

Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Porter from Greater Manchester Police said: "Rangzieb Ahmed is a very dangerous man. He consorts with senior terrorist figures and has devoted his life to creating and working with terrorist networks.

- Rangzieb Ahmed, of Fallowfield, south Manchester, was cleared of possessing a rucksack containing traces of explosives for the use of terrorism.