A teenager who perpetrated a bomb hoax has said it was 'a suicide attempt, not an act of terror'. Husnain Masood, then 17, called the police himself.
The bomb squad were scrambled and carried out a controlled explosion. The call had reported that there was a man with a gun placing a bag with wires coming out of it under a bus stop in Rochdale town centre.
Officers raced to the scene and when they came across a bag matching that description, at about 3am on April 21, they called in the bomb squad. According to the Manchester Evening News, police waited for the Army Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit to arrive and one officer was sitting in his car when a masked man knocked on his window.
It was Masood, now aged 18, wearing all black and a balaclava, was armed with a knife. He started chasing the police officer who shouted out to warn his colleague.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Masood then continued to threaten to shoot the officer. He saw what looked like the butt of a gun in Masood's hand with wires coming from his clothing.
The teenager was then stopped by other officers after being tasered and sprayed with incapacitant spray. A controlled explosion of the device was carried out which was found to be non-viable.
Police searched Masood and discovered a note which read: "This is a suicide attempt, not an act of terror." When questioned about the incident, Masood said he had no intention of harming anyone. He said he believed that if police believed it was a credible threat, armed officers would shoot him.
The teenager had actually been holding a black candle lighter which he hoped police would believe was a firearm. Recalling the incident in a statement read at court, one officer said: "This incident scared me, I was put in genuine fear of serious harm and death from this man.
"I was also put in fear, as I felt that I couldn't help my co-workers and friends."
Masood, of Mere Street, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to two offences of possession of a bladed article, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and a bomb hoax offence.
Masood was sentenced to 14 months in prison at Minshull Street Crown Court. After the hearing, Joanna Crook, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: "Masood’s actions caused a great deal of fear, not to mention the expense and time of the police and bomb disposal experts who could have put that time to better use.
"Masood admitted his actions when spoken to by the police and apologised for what he had done. The police officers who dealt with incident showed great bravery in the face of a very serious incident."
