Belfast-born Muslim convert behind Prince Harry assassination plot jailed

A Belfast-born convert to Islam who planned to shoot Prince Harry has confessed to the police and has been jailed.

13:42 11 February 2014

31-year-old Ashraf Islam, who used to be called Mark Townley before he converted to Islam, has been jailed after he admitted to making a threat to kill Prince Harry. 

 

He said that he planned to kill the soldier prince for having “blood on his hands” due to his service in the armed forces. 

 

Islam was sentenced to three years in jail after he confessed. A judge at Isleworth Crown Court in west London described his plot as “vague and unlikely to succeed” but presented a risk to the public. 

 

Judge Richard McGregor-Johnson, said: 'The examination of your computer revealed you conducted research on his [Prince Harry’s] whereabouts and intentions.

 

'You had given the matter considerable thought.'

 

He added: 'The reason behind that is that you thought he and other serving officers had some moral guilt, and you thought you had a moral right to judge.

 

'I accept that there is nothing here that could be described as professional plans as to your expressed intentions.’

 

Meanwhile, Ashraf Islam’s lawyer, Ms Morrell, said that her client had a personality disorder.