Hairdresser Shasta Khan (born 20/02/1974), was convicted of engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism and two counts of possessing a record of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism following a trial at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square.

Shasta and her husband Mohammed Sajid Khan (born 01/08/1978), are believed to have been in the early stages of building an improvised explosive device to target Jewish communities in Manchester.

However, their plot was foiled by officers from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit.
The couple, of Foster Street, Oldham, are now due to be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square on Friday 20 July 2012.

Mohammed Sajid Khan pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism at an earlier hearing.

The couple married just six weeks after they met on an Internet dating site, and just a few months later were actively listening to and reading extremist Al Qaeda-inspired material.

Between March and July 2011, the couple began to access online bomb-making manuals and acquired everyday household items from supermarkets and high street retailers which could be used to construct a viable, and deadly, explosive device within the confines of their marital home, which also doubled as Shasta Khan's hairdressing salon.

It is believed they were preparing to carry out a terrorist attack in Britain, with the most likely target being the Jewish communities of Manchester. Evidence of the couple driving around these communities to look at possible targets in these areas was found, along with extremist literature espousing anti-Semitic and violent jihadist beliefs.

Their plan was unravelled after police were initially called to reports of a domestic assault, but a family member intimated that possible terrorist acts were being committed and the NWCTU investigation was launched.