South London Man Jailed for Plot to Bomb Morden Mosque
A south London man was locked up for five years after trying to build a homemade bomb aimed at a mosque in Morden.
Fireworks and Bomb Parts Found in Terror Plot
Steven Bishop, 41, was caught collecting fireworks and components to create an improvised incendiary device. A Met Counter Terrorism investigation revealed he planned to target a mosque in south-west London.
At Kingston Crown Court, Bishop pleaded guilty to possession of explosives with intent and to gathering information useful for terrorism – serious offences under the Explosive Substances Act 1883 and Terrorism Act 2000.
Key Worker’s Tip-Off Thwarts Attack
Bishop was arrested on 29 October 2018 after one of his key workers reported concerns. He had shown her images of bomb-making parts and openly admitted he intended to target a mosque.
“Thanks to the diligence of his key worker in alerting us, we stopped him before any harm was done,” said Commander Clarke Jarrett, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. “This shows how the public’s help saves lives.”
Evidence Uncovered in Police Raids
- Fireworks, some tampered with
- Fuses, remote controls, and ignitors for bombs
- A firing device delivered after Bishop’s arrest
- Handwritten notes detailing bomb-making and dark web access
- Searches on Bishop’s phone for terror attacks and explosive detonators
Police also discovered Bishop had researched the Morden mosque online. His digital activity included chilling comments about future attacks on Facebook.
Tough Sentence and Long-Term Monitoring
Bishop was handed four years for the explosives offence plus an additional year on licence, with a two-year term for terrorism info offences running concurrently. He faces 15 years of terrorist offender notification requirements after release.
The judge emphasised the terrorist link under the Counter Terrorism Act 2008.
With faith communities still on edge after recent international attacks, specialist officers continue helping places of worship nationwide stay safe.
If you spot suspicious activity, call police immediately on 0800 789 321.
