Terrorist Pavlo Lapshyn was invited inside Walsall mosque before bombing
Terrorist Pavlo Lapshyn was seen loitering around a mosque just hours before a bomb he had planted there exploded – and was even invited into the building by worshippers, it has emerged today.
On June 21, the Ukranian targeted Walsall's Aisha Mosque in Rutter Street, Caldmore, when he planted explosive devices in a child's lunch box at the mosque gates.
An explosion was heard by residents late that day, but it was not reported to police until 24 hours later after people had discovered various bits from an explosive device.
At about 4.45pm on June 21, Lapshyn was seen walking around the gates to the mosque site by two women. They asked him what he was doing, and even asked if he wanted to go into the building. But instead he quickly left the scene.
Black Country mosque bomber Pavlo Lapshyn is sentenced - LIVE
Zia Ul-Haq, a senior member of the mosque, said today: "He went from one gate to another. People thought he looked suspect so two of them asked if he was alright. Sometimes some people just want to come into the mosque but they are reluctant when they get here.
"But he didn't want to say anything and he just kept quiet and walked away."
Mr Ul-Haq added: "If he had come in and spoken to us before all of this had happened and spoken about what he thinks about other races we could have tried to reason with him.
"But now the law is dealing with him after the tragic death of Mr Saleem and the bombings, where luckily no-one was hurt."
He said the two women were 'shocked' to have come into contact with him – and they only realised when police showed them images of Lapshyn weeks later.
"It is shocking to think that he was here so soon before it happened and he could have come into the mosque," he added.
Mr Ul-Haq said members of the mosque did not feel it was their place to forgive him and added: "It is time for the law to deal with him now.
"These were crimes against the community and a lot of people could have been hurt."
Iftikhar Ahmed, spokesman for Wolverhampton Central Mosque, also praised the police work on the case. He added: "I think the police have done a very good job in getting the case to this stage.
"He has also manufactured and exploded bombs with the intention of taking away lives."
Lapshyn said he had planted the bombs because he wanted to 'increase racial hatred'.
On Monday, Lapshyn admitted murdering Mr Saleem, causing an explosion on July 12 and engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts between April 24 and July 18.
