A British supporter of Islamic State has been convicted on Friday of trying to recruit children he teaches to an "army" of jihadists to help him carry out a wave of attacks in London.
Umar Haque, 25, showed the children videos of beheadings and other violent propaganda, forcing them to repeat the deadly attacks in the British capital and make them attack police.
"His plan was to create an army of children to help with multiple terrorist attacks across London," said Dean Haydon, head of the Metropolitan Police's Counterterrorism Administration.
"He tried and brought, we believe, with him children from the ages of 11 to 14."
Although unqualified and employed as an administrator, police say Haque used the guise of teaching Islamic studies to persuade 110 children to become fighters at the Lantern of Knowledge, a small private Islamic school affiliated with Ripple Road Mosque in East London.
Of these children, 35 have long-term safeguards that include social services and other principles. Six of the team gave evidence at Haque's trial, describing in detail how he teaches.
His intention was to use them to attack places in London, such as Big Ben Tower, soldiers from the Queen's Guards, a large shopping mall, banks and media stations, prosecutors said.
The self-radicalized Haque is believed to have been inspired by an attack in March last year.