An Isis supporter has admitted to plotting to bomb St Paul's Cathedral and a hotel in central London.
Safiyya Amira Shaikh pleaded guilty to preparation of terrorist acts and dissemination of terrorist publications during a hearing at the Old Bailey today (February 21).
The 36-year-old, from Middlesex, who converted to Islam in 2007, had plans to plant two explosive devices in the capital - one in the historic cathedral and one at a nearby hotel.
She was snared by undercover police while researching her terror plot between August and October last year.
According to a prosecution case summary, Shaikh had stated her main aim was to kill as many people as possible in a suicide attack on St Paul’s.
The court heard how she had made online contact with someone she believed could make bombs but who was actually an undercover officer, travelled to London to scope out security around the cathedral and prepared the words of a pledge of allegiance to Islamic State (IS) or Isis.
She also shared terrorist propaganda via groups using the Telegram messaging app.
Shaikh, who was born Michelle Ramsden, began to follow extremists online and by 2015 had become radicalised, the prosecution alleged.
In encrypted chat with an undercover officer last August, the defendant said that she would “rather die young and get to Jannah (paradise) quickest way possible”.
During interviews with the police following her arrest, Shaikh admitted posting extremist material and the plot - although she said she may not have gone through with it.
Shaikh has been remanded in custody ahead of a sentence hearing on May 12.
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