Jihadi who plotted to bomb the Stock Exchange is recalled to prison for a fourth time – after breaching his bail conditions

A jihadi terrorist jailed for plotting to bomb the Stock Exchange has been recalled to prison for a fourth time for breaching his bail conditions – but is still going to be given a fifth chance of freedom, MailOnline can reveal.

Mohammed Chowdhury and later London Bridge attacker Usman Khan were among nine members of an al Qaida-inspired group sentenced in 2012 for plotting to bomb the financial centre and build a terrorist training camp in Pakistan.

Chowdhury, 35, was a key member of one of three gangs of extremists based around Stoke-on-Trent, Cardiff and London arrested in a huge police and security service operation designed to thwart an attack.

A hand-written target list discovered at his home gave the names and addresses of then London mayor Boris Johnson, two rabbis, the US embassy and the Stock Exchange.

The conspiracy was stopped by undercover anti-terror police before firm dates could be set for attacks.

Chowdhury was sentenced to 13 years and eight months in 2012 after being described as the ‘lynchpin’ of the group who plotted to plant a pipe bomb in the toilets of the London Stock Exchange.

Woolwich Crown Court was told that he also spoke about carrying out a ‘Mumbai-style’ attack at the Houses of Parliament or the London Eye.

The terrorist, from east London, was jailed alongside his co-conspirator Khan, 28, who went on to kill Jack Merritt, 25, and 23-year-old Saskia Jones at Fishmongers’ Hall in central London in November 2019.

Mohammed Chowdhury (pictured) has been recalled to prison for a fifth time, MailOnline can reveal

Chowdhury, 35, was a key member of one of three gangs of extremists based around Stoke-on-Trent, Cardiff and London arrested in a huge police and security service operation designed to thwart an attack

Chowdhury was sentenced to 13 years and eight months in 2012 after being described as the ‘lynchpin’ of the group who plotted to plant a pipe bomb in the toilets of the London Stock Exchange

Chowdhury was also handed a nine-month consecutive sentence in December 2015 after he was convicted of violent disorder in prison.

Despite his record, Chowdhury was automatically released at the half-way point in his sentence in January 2018 in accordance with the law at the time.

MailOnline can reveal that he has subsequently been recalled three times – with one being rescinded as ‘not justified’ – before his latest recall in May 2024.

For the fourth recall, it is not known what he did to breach his licence conditions.

Under parole rules, MailOnline understands that Chowdhury will have another parole hearing in June. It will consider whether it was right to recall him.

It can decide to free him again or ensure he stays behind bars. If it rejects the appeal, Chowdhury will have to wait two years before a new parole appeal.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: ‘An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Mohammed Chowdhury and is scheduled to take place in June 2025.

‘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 including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.

Chowdhury and three others pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism by planning to plant a bomb in the toilets of the London Stock Exchange

Woolwich Crown Court was told that he also spoke about carrying out a ‘Mumbai-style’ attack at the Houses of Parliament or the London Eye

‘The prisoner and witnesses are then 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.’

The new parole hearing will consider the comments made about Chowdhury in his previous appearances before the Parole Board before making a decision on whether he can be released again.

In March 2023, the parole hearing for this third recall to prison, the Board said that he had ‘managed to move away from extremism’ and was suitable for release on licence.

It wrote: ‘After considering the circumstances of his offending and time on licence, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that Mr Chowdhury had managed to move away from extremism. It determined that he was suitable for release.’

His release was approved on conditions including living at a designated address, observing strict curfews and submitting to enhanced monitoring including GPS tagging, polygraph testing and measures to manage desistance from extremist behaviour.

He was told he must also comply with limits to his contacts and activities, as well as restrictions on the use of electronic technology.

Chowdhury was first released on January 25 2018 but was recalled to prison around six months later on July 19. He was released for a second time on October 3 that year on the direction of the then justice secretary when it was determined the recall was not justified.

Chowdhury was again recalled on November 15 but re-released on June 25 2019 at the direction of the Parole Board after an oral hearing.

He was then recalled a third time on July 17 2019 due to concerns about his behaviour.

London Bridge killer Usman Khan (pictured) was in the same group as Chowdhury in 2021, before he killed two people less than a year after being released from prison

The Parole Board said there had been ‘no evidence to suggest he had committed further offences’ but ‘given the circumstances, the panel found the decision to recall him to custody at this time had been appropriate’.

Despite concerns about his behaviour including violence since he was last recalled, the panel said he had been ‘helped with his mental health and he has been compliant with prescribed medication’.

‘A professional assessment determined that Mr Chowdhury had since fully recovered,’ the board said.

‘The panel noted that the evidence before it demonstrated that Mr Chowdhury’s level of engagement and intent to engage in terrorist activity is now low, and that this would be unlikely to change providing his mental health remains stable.’

In oral evidence, the panel was told there was no evidence of any return to extremist behaviour and no further security concerns had been identified in prison.

The panel said Chowdhury had undertaken programmes ‘to address the underlying causes of extremist offending and ways of disengaging’, along with working with ‘professionals to better understand his faith.’

Chowdhury was part of a terrorist network, which also involved cells around the country who were planning to attack the London Stock Exchange.

Bugs hidden in their cars and other covert recording techniques allowed MI5 to listen in on many of their conversations after the three cells met up in Cwn Carn Country Park in Newport, Wales, in 2010.

Chowdhury and three others pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism by planning to plant a bomb in the toilets of the London Stock Exchange.

They were Gurukanth Desai, 30 at the time, from Cardiff, jailed for 12 years, Abdul Miah, then 25, from Cardiff, sentenced to 16 years and 10 months, and Shah Rahman, 28, also from London, who got 12 years.

Rahman was re-released in February 2025 after being recalled to jail.

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