Man Jailed For Trying To Buy Deadly Ricin

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Man Jailed For Trying To Buy Deadly Ricin

The father of two tried to buy enough to kill 1,400 people but said he was just curious after watching hit TV show Breaking Bad.

15:25 Friday 18 September 2015

The fake ricin was put in vials and hidden in a toy car

By Joe Tidy, at the Old Bailey

A software programmer has been jailed for eight years for attempting to buy the deadly toxin ricin on the dark web.

Mohammed Ali, 31, from Liverpool, bought the powder after being inspired by US TV show Breaking Bad.

He purchased it from an anonymous source which turned out to be an undercover FBI agent who alerted the British police.

Five vials of harmless powder were delivered concealed in a toy car in February and, had the substance been real, would have been enough to kill 1,400 people.

Ali covered in invisible liquid from handling the toy car

In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Saunders said he was satisfied with the defence's argument that Ali had no target in mind and no terrorism plot planned.

He was not satisfied, however, with Ali's claim that he had changed his mind about testing the ricin on animals and was planning to dispose of it.

The judge said: "Ricin is a chemical weapon.

"It is in my judgement, much more serious than possessing a firearm.

"It seems to me that this is the sort of case where a deterrent sentence has to be passed.

"Everyone needs to know that the possession of a chemical weapon is extremely serious and long prison sentences will follow."

During the trial, the Old Bailey heard Ali had messaged the undercover agent in January: "Hi would you be able to make me some ricin and send it to the UK?"

After a string of questions about the price, bulk orders and repeat orders, Ali asked how the chemical should be tested.

The agent said he must test it on a rodent.

Days before the delivery, Ali had made a to-do list on his computer which included the entries "paid ricin guy" and "get pet to murder", the court heard.

The father of two was found guilty of attempting to possess a chemical weapon between 10 January and 12 February.