Mosque bomber Pavlo Lapshyn who struck in West Midlands found dead in prison cell
A racist terrorist who planted bombs at three mosques in the Black Country and murdered a Birmingham worshipper has been found dead in prison.
In 2013 nail bomber Pavlo Lapshyn, aged 37, was jailed for a minimum of 40 years after mounting his campaign of terror across the West Midlands which saw him plant bombs at Tipton's Kanz-ul-Iman mosque in Binfield Street, Walsall's Aisha Mosque in Rutter Street in Caldmore, and on a roundabout near Wolverhampton Central Mosque in Waterloo Road.
He stabbed 82-year-old Mohammed Saleem three times in the back as the pensioner walked home from evening prayers in Birmingham on April 29, 2013.
Lapshyn had only arrived in the country from Ukraine five days before launching his terror campaign because he wanted to 'increase racial hatred'. He was put behind bars after pleading guilty to murdering Mr Saleem, causing an explosion and engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts at the Old Bailey in London.
The Prison Service said the inmate died on Tuesday at Wakefield Prison.
The service stated: “This was an abhorrent crime and our thoughts remain with Mr Saleem’s friends and family. Pavlo Lapshyn died on 23 September 2025 at HMP Wakefield. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”
Following his sentencing Mr Saleem's family described the killer as a "gutless coward".
