26

TARIQ PACED the damp confines of the room that had become his HQ, listening to the words of his trusted lieutenant. The intelligence services had arrived in Glasgow. It was Tariq’s intention to have their whereabouts and activities monitored by the army of informants he had cultivated from his days of street corner preaching.

He knew that he had inspired great loyalty in his men but he was also acutely aware that they did not have the training to defeat the technical capabilities that would now be brought to bear against them.

Beside him, Naif appraised the Imam. “There was a meeting earlier today in the city centre police office between local police and Sir William Stratford, the Head of MI5. We are now going to have the full force of the infidel unleashed against us.

“Yet everything is in place and now all you need to do is make and broadcast the film to ensure we keep our brothers and sisters safe while we inflict destruction on the infidel.”

Tariq nodded his head at his second in command. Naif had been crucial to him in enlisting and radicalising young impressionable members of the community with his tales of the war against first the Soviets and then the ‘crusaders’ in Afghanistan.

Naif’s tale of how he came about his ruined white eye in a fire fight with the devils of the SAS in Kandahar was a major attraction. But it was the fact that Naif had been in the company of Osama bin Laden and been able to recount his dignity and serenity and his devoutness to the word of Allah and the five pillars of wisdom, which had brought the volunteers flocking to Tariq’s meetings. Ultimately, these volunteers had left for the Jihadist training centres of North West Pakistan before returning to take up places in Glasgow’s society in different communities and professions. Trusted and valued people, waiting for the time when they would be needed.

That time had come.

Tariq inclined his head towards Naif and said, “All is good. If we want to make sure our plans are completed in the way that will enshrine our names alongside that of Sheikh Osama and Ayman al-Zawahiri we must make sure that there are no loose ends.”

That was why using cellphones and any other electronic devices that could be traced to his whereabouts was strictly forbidden.

Naif met his gaze steadily. “That is as I am sure Imam. Your will shall be done. Praise Allah.”

But Tariq needed further assurance from Naif that success would be guaranteed. He said: “I have your word brother, that the target you have selected will cause maximum impact both physical and mental?”

Naif met his demand with his usual assuredness. “Yes Imam. We have selected the Buchanan Street Underground Station because it is at the very heart of the city.”

Naif continued, “This station is surrounded by offices and shops and sure to be busy. No one will be able to stop us and when our truck impacts at the entrance it will kill all those inside or within a radius of 100 metres. It will also show how futile the safety methods the infidels have been boasting about since Braehead are.”

Tariq almost purred with delight at the thought of the destruction he would wreak, yet still he wanted more detail. “Can we be sure that there will be no premature explosion before the truck reaches its target?”

Naif smiled. “Have no fears Imam. We have used a mixture that is tried and tested and sure to produce the desired result. Hasim, Allah rest his soul, had produced a supply of devices of the highest quality before he entered through the gates of Paradise. Do you wish me to go into more detail, Imam?”

Tariq stroked his black beard for a second before nodding almost imperceptibly that he did.

Naif went on, “The ingredients, TNT, aluminium nitrate and aluminium powder, were mixed most carefully by Hasim in my presence Imam. The mixture was placed in boxes used for containing fruit and vegetables which have all been wired to batteries.

“We have 1,500 lbs. of explosives in the delivery truck plus a number of gas cylinders also wired up to the main connection. This, Imam, means that when the explosion occurs there will be a fragmentation process that will provide a deadly rain of shrapnel, tearing through the air and slicing through the bodies of any infidels in the vicinity. In short, carnage.

“This method was used in the attacks by our brothers on the American embassies at Nairobi, Kenya and Dar esSalaam, Tanzania in 1998 to great effect. I am confident we will enjoy similar results in Glasgow.”

Tariq smiled cruelly. “Excellent, Naif. All is in hand and we can turn our attention to spreading panic through the unbelievers whilst warning the faithful of what is to come.”

Tariq planned to take a chance by broadcasting a film that would echo a famous speech of bin Laden’s and so by association, he hoped, insert himself into the consciousness of the greater Islamic world. The film would be posted via the Al-Jazeera website to ensure there was no technical trace obtainable from it. Puffing out his cheeks Tariq took his place on the simple seat at the end of the room.

“Naif, I want you to stand behind me at my right shoulder. Your presence is known throughout the mosque now. You are the man who defied the SAS and was introduced to and honoured by sheik Osama and broke bread with him in the caves of Tora Bora.

“You are an inspiration to our young and it is time we come out from behind our masks and let the world know who is behind the Jihad in this city of the damned.”

Naif responded with pride. “Imam, it will be an honour. I will stand behind you just like I watched sheik Osama’s back these summers past.”

Looking at the camera, his head held proudly, Tariq spoke. “We are living in dignity and honour, for which we thank God. It is much better for us to live under the ground or under a tree or even in a wasteland than to live in comfort at the behest and under the shadow of the infidel’s patronage.

“Even in a land that is Godless we must make sure that we, the true believers, continue to adhere to the shahada, to worship and obey the words of Allah at the appointed time and also follow the prophethood of Mohammed. If the believer does so he or she will come to no harm.

“The time is come; we have brought Jihad to these shores in this Godless city of the infidel and forced him to feel the pain, experience the fear that he has wrought upon our defenceless communities for all these years. I ask you the devout to join us in the World Islamic Front and to bring home the words of the sheik Osama with all your power.”

Then he concluded, “Jihad is everyman’s duty – fard ayan.”

With that the recording ended and Tariq returned to his office to wait for the next stage in his Jihad to be waged.