Terrorist back in jail after buying phone

Habib Ahmed, 32, was jailed for 10 years in 2008, nine years for being a member of the terror group and an additional year for possessing a document for terror-related purposes.

The taxi driver from Manchester was the lieutenant of Rangzieb Ahmed, no relation, who headed a terror cell preparing to commit mass murder, their 11-week trial at Manchester Crown Court heard.

Rangzieb Ahmed, who was also jailed for a minimum of 10 years, was the first person in the UK ever to be convicted of directing terrorist activities.

His intentions were uncovered when he passed three diaries to Habib Ahmed, to bring into the UK.

The diaries appeared largely blank but actually contained details of key al-Qaida operatives written in invisible ink – contact books for a terrorist.

Among the names and phone numbers in the diaries were al-Qaida’s suspected former number three, Hamza Rabia.

Habib Ahmed was arrested in 2006 and after five years behind bars was released on licence last September under strict conditions.

But according to a Sunday newspaper he is now back behind bars after he began worshipping at an unauthorised mosque and bought a mobile phone.

It is understood Ahmed will now have to face a hearing to see whether he must serve the rest of his licence behind bars, the paper reported.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: “We do not comment on individuals.

“All offenders subject to probation supervision on release from prison have to adhere to a set of strict conditions.

“They can be recalled to custody if they breach their conditions or their behaviour indicates that it is no longer safe for them to remain in the community.”