BBC
A hospital patient who prevented a devastating terrorist attack has revealed the extraordinary moment the would-be bomber asked for a hug before surrendering to authorities.
Nathan Newby spent two crucial hours persuading Mohammad Farooq, a self-radicalised "lone-wolf terrorist," to abandon his bombing plan at St James' Hospital in Leeds in 2023. The intervention likely prevented significant loss of life at the medical facility where Farooq was employed.
In his first detailed interview about the incident, Newby reflected on the fateful encounter: "I hate going into hospitals but on that day, I was in there for a reason and it was not to get better; I was in there because that was happening."
Farooq was subsequently convicted of preparing acts of terrorism and sentenced to a minimum of 37 years in prison. For his courageous actions, Newby, 35, will receive the George Medal, Britain's prestigious award for civilian bravery.
The Critical Intervention
Newby was receiving treatment for a chest infection when he noticed Farooq behaving suspiciously outside the maternity ward. The former nursing assistant appeared anxious and out of place, prompting Newby to approach him.
"He looked out of place so I went over to see if he was alright, to see if I could cheer him up," Newby explained. "He was watching a bag all the time which was six feet away."
Through careful persuasion, Newby convinced Farooq to reveal the bag's contents: a pressure cooker bomb containing 10 kilograms of explosives. Sheffield Crown Court later heard that the device was estimated to be "double the size" of the bomb used in the 2013 Boston Marathon attack, which killed three people and injured hundreds.
A Calculated Risk
Faced with this shocking discovery, Newby made a split-second decision that would prove pivotal. "I thought there's no way of getting away now so I might as well stay with the guy," he recalled. "If I'd have run away he would have panicked."
Instead of fleeing, Newby remained with Farooq, engaging him in conversation to understand his motivations and potentially change his mind. "I stuck with him, trying to take his mind off what he wanted to do, get to know him and what he was thinking and see if I could change it," he said.
The Terrorist's Background
Court proceedings revealed that Farooq, a former nursing assistant at the hospital, had become a self-radicalised terrorist with grievances against his colleagues. His stated goal was to "kill as many nurses as possible" during the planned attack in the early hours of January 20, 2023.
Intelligence showed that Farooq had consumed "anti-West propaganda" on social media and downloaded terrorist handbooks, including bomb-making instructions. When arrested, police discovered he was also carrying knives and an imitation firearm.
The Turning Point
Throughout their two-hour conversation, Newby strategically engaged Farooq about the potential blast radius and successfully persuaded him to move away from the hospital's main entrance. The building, typically busy with foot traffic throughout the night, was unusually quiet during the incident.
"The hospital is normally busy, people in and out all night," Newby observed. "There was no one there at all, it was just me and him. There was no one there I could send a signal to."
The breakthrough came when Farooq, after lengthy discussions about personal struggles and life challenges, made an unexpected request. "He asked me to stand up and give him a hug, so I said, 'yes, have a hug mate,'" Newby recounted.
Following this emotional moment, Farooq made a crucial decision: "He then said, 'I want you to phone the police before I change my mind.'"
The Arrest
Using Farooq's phone due to his own device's dead battery, Newby contacted emergency services. During the call, he subtly recorded portions of their interaction after the operator activated a mobile application. When asked about additional weapons, Farooq revealed the imitation gun, which Newby calmly requested he place on a nearby bench.
Armed police arrived shortly after and arrested Farooq without incident.
Multiple Targets Considered
Court testimony revealed that Farooq initially planned to attack RAF Menwith Hill, a sensitive intelligence facility near Harrogate operated jointly by US and UK personnel. When he determined that target was unfeasible, he shifted focus to what prosecutors described as the "softer and less well-protected target" of St James' Hospital.
Legal and Professional Recognition
During the trial, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb described Newby as an "extraordinary man," stating his testimony was "amongst the most remarkable the court has ever heard." Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC credited Newby's "simple act of kindness" with almost certainly saving multiple lives.
Detective Superintendent Paul Greenwood, head of investigations for Counter Terrorism Policing North East, emphasized the unprecedented nature of the intervention: "He was the right person in the right place at the right time, because most people wouldn't have done what he did."
Personal Impact and Reflection
The full weight of the situation only hit Newby after returning to his hospital room. "When I got back in my room in hospital and laid on the bed, that's when it all hit me," he reflected. "It's just crazy that if I hadn't been in hospital, if I hadn't got that chest infection and been rushed to hospital, I'd have been at home, he would have gone for it and I would have been seeing it on the news."
The George Medal
Newby will receive the George Medal during a ceremony at St James' Palace in London. This prestigious civilian honor recognizes acts of great bravery and may also be awarded to military personnel for gallant conduct not directly facing enemy forces.
While acknowledging the honor as "a lot to take in," Newby expressed pride in the outcome: "I like to think that anybody would do that. Some people are strong and some people handle things in different ways but it's just me, it's just how I am."
His remarkable intervention stands as a testament to the power of human compassion and quick thinking in preventing tragedy, demonstrating how an ordinary person's extraordinary courage can change the course of events and save countless lives.
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