@c5news: Spotting a stranger looking anxious and out of place, Nathan Newby did what so many of us don’t do – he approached, had a chat, and tried to “cheer” him up. Little did he know, the man, Mohammad Farooq, standing outside the maternity ward at St James’ Hospital in Leeds, was a lone-wolf terrorist, planning an attack that could have claimed countless lives. Farooq was fidgeting and kept looking at a bag placed some six feet away. Newby, there to get a chest infection treated, asked if he could see inside the bag. Farooq obliged, revealing a pressure cooker bomb with 10kgs of explosives – double the size of the device used in the 2013 Boston Marathon attack that killed three and injured hundreds. Rather than run away, Newby made another heroic decision – he decided to stay with Farooq, spending two hours convincing him to abandon his plan. Farooq, who worked at the hospital, was convicted of preparing acts of terrorism over the 2023 incident and jailed for a minimum of 37 years. Today, Newby will receive the George Medal which is granted in recognition of acts of great bravery. It is primarily a civilian award, but it may be awarded to military personnel for gallant conduct.

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Wednesday 25 March 2026 13:09:19 GMT