St James' Hospital police incident: Student nurse facing terror charges after Leeds hospital arrest is given trial date

Mohammad Farooq, 27, was allegedly inspired by radical Islam and Jihad when he carried out online research and then "hostile reconnaissance" of the military base in Yorkshire on January 10 and 18 this year. Prosecutors say he chose the target because of online encouragement to carry out a "lone wolf" attack at the site.

Farooq is said to have constructed a viable bomb made from a pressure cooker, 13.7kgs of a homemade low explosive mixture and a length of pyrotechnic fuse. He was arrested in the early hours of January 20 outside the maternity unit at St James's University Hospital in Leeds, where he had been due to work a shift.

His actions at the hospital are not alleged to have been motivated by terrorism but a grudge towards another member of staff. It resulted in some areas of the hospital being evacuated and a critical incident being declared by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as Army bomb disposals and emergency services worked at the scene.

Farooq was charged with one count of engaging in conduct with the intention of committing acts of terrorism between July 12 last year and January 20. It is alleged he had instructions to assemble a homemade explosive device, bought equipment and made the bomb, researched the RAF base online, and engaged in reconnaissance of the alleged target.

He is also charged with possessing an explosive substance – namely 13.7kg of a homemade low explosive mixture, a pressure cooker and a length of pyrotechnic fuse – on January 20 with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. Farooq faces a further count of possessing an imitation firearm: a Gediz 9mm PAK semi-automatic pistol; with intent to cause fear of violence on the same date.

Farooq, of Hetton Road, Roundhay, appeared via video link from custody for a hearing at the Old Bailey before Mr Justice Jeremy Baker on Friday. The senior judge set a three-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court from October 16 with a plea hearing at the same court on July 7. The defendant was further remanded into custody.