Birmingham man caught with deadly DIY bomb kit
A former doorman from Birmingham has been found guilty of terrorism offences after police uncovered potentially lethal bomb-making kit at his home.
Pressure Cooker Bomb and Explosive Components Found
Zahid Hussain, 29, was caught with a homemade pressure cooker device packed with nails and shrapnel, rigged with adapted Christmas tree lights to act as a detonator. Officers found the device during a police raid on his room in Naseby Drive, Alum Rock.
They also seized handwritten bomb-making notes, textbooks on guerrilla warfare and small arms combat, and dismantled electrical items like alarm clocks and doorbell chimes — all indicating Hussain was building an improvised explosive device (IED).
Suspicious Behaviour Raises Alarm
Hussain was first arrested in August 2015 after police responded to reports of suspicious activity. At the time, he was stopped carrying a knife and crowbar, plus notes detailing bomb instructions. A search of his home revealed further suspicious items: wires, adapted electrical lights, dismantled phones, and bottles of hydrogen peroxide.
West Midlands Police’s Counter Terrorism Unit swiftly got involved, re-arresting Hussain on terrorism suspicions. A thorough investigation ensued, including a search of a nearby storm drain Hussain was spotted entering. It was there and during a second home search that officers discovered the pressure cooker bomb and other explosive components.
Expert Analysis Confirms Lethal Threat
Forensic tests found Hussain’s device included urea, diesel, nails, drill bits, nuts and bolts, a deadly combo capable of causing mass harm if triggered. His adapted Christmas tree lights contained match head powder—potential detonators ready to set off a blast.
Police also uncovered his computer browsing history filled with bomb-making content and terrorism research, proving ongoing interest and intent.
Isolation and Radicalisation
Court heard Hussain, estranged from his wife and two kids, had become withdrawn and isolated before his arrest, spending hours online buying bomb supplies and researching explosives.
“This was a significant and complex inquiry,” said Chief Superintendent Matt Ward, head of counter terrorism for West Midlands Police. “The items Hussain possessed could have formed a viable explosive device, posing a serious threat to life.”
Hussain has been charged with Preparing for Acts of Terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 and will be sentenced at a later date.
Concerned about radicalisation? Contact your local police on 101 or visit www.preventtragedies.co.uk for help and advice.
