LONDON - A Syrian national who attempted to make bombs for Al-Qaeda-style attacks was jailed for seven years by a British court Wednesday, after being found guilty of terrorism offences. A judge in Birmingham, central England, told Hassan Tabbakh that the home-made devices could have been developed into viable bombs capable of causing death and destruction. The 38-year-old physics graduate, who lived in the city, was convicted of "preparing for acts of terrorism" after a two-week trial. A jury heard he had tried to make bombs using easily available materials such as fertiliser and had made handwritten notes about their design.Judge Frank Chapman told Tabbakh he was not being punished for having Islamist beliefs or for supporting Osama bin Laden's extremist network and similar organisations. But he added: "If you had developed this concept into a working bomb, there would have been great potential for destruction, injury and death."
Tabbakh, who claimed to have been tortured in his homeland, was given indefinite leave to remain in Britain in 2005 after applying for asylum, the court was told.