An extremist given four life sentences after running a Taliban 'recruiting agency' from a market stall in Longsight could be released soon, it has been reported.
Munir Farooqi, now 63, was part of a plot to persuade vulnerable young men to 'fight, kill and die' in Afghanistan.
He believed killing British troops was an 'obligation'.
Farooqi was ordered to serve a minimum of nine years, after being found guilty in 2011 of terrorism offences and three counts of soliciting to murder.
The Mirror reports that his first parole review was refused in October, but it is believed the Secretary of State will refer his case back to the Parole Board in mid-2022.
A source told the paper: "Farooqi was given four life sentences but he could still walk free. It’s terrifying."
At the time a judge told him: "Great care must be taken before considering you for release if indeed you are ever released."
A spokesman for the Parole Board confirmed Farooqi 'will be eligible for a further review in due course'.
Farooqi, a Pakistani born British citizen, ran an Islamic book stall on Longsight market and offered young men extremist books and DVDs.
He was approached at the market by two separate undercover police officers, who claimed to be interested in Islam.
They spent months undercover and wore secret bugging devices.
Farooqi told the officers that fighting coalition forces was ‘fun’, and he rejoiced at TV pictures of Union Flag-draped coffins returning home the bodies of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
Farooqi had joined the Taliban as an 'active terrorist' after being inspired by the Allied invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 terror attacks.
He was captured and jailed in November 2001, and later released by the authorities in Pakistan.
Farooqi returned to Manchester and turned his family home into a 'production centre' for propaganda.
Recommending Farooqi serve a minimum nine years behind bars following a Manchester Crown Court trial, judge Mr Justice Richard Henriques told him: “You are a dangerous extremist who believes murdering British and American troops is an obligation.
"You have the necessary skills to persuade others to that ideology. Great care must be taken before considering you for release if indeed you are ever released.”
Farooqi, formerly of Victoria Terrace, Longsight, was given four life sentences after a jury convicted him of preparing for acts of terrorism, three counts of soliciting to murder and one of disseminating terrorist publications.
