An al-Qaeda “sleeper” who tried to blend into English life possessed secret computer files on how to carry out terrorist bombings using cars packed with gas canisters.

The files were among a vast library of material designed to help extremists to form and operate terrorist cells. Omar Altimimi, 37, a married father of three, faces a lengthy prison term today after he was found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of six offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 and two under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Detectives believe that Altimimi, a Dutch citizen who uses at least three separate identities, aimed to blend into the community until he decided that it was time to strike. He arrived in Britain from the Netherlands in 2002 using an alias, and settled in Bolton with his wife and children. Although he failed to win political asylum under one false identity, he claimed £100,000 from the National Asylum Support Services, which he kept in one of eight bank accounts. Applications for jobs as a teaching assistant and as a cleaning supervisor for Greater Manchester Police were a cover for his real purpose, police say.

Altimimi first came to the notice of the police last year for his role in a £27,400 money-laundering operation. Antiterrorism police took over the investigation when an Immigration and Nationality Directorate card under the name Abou Hawas was found in his shoe as well as a debit card in the name of A. H. Abdullah.

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Hidden among clothing were goods selected and purchased to support the activities of terrorists, a court was told

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Officers discovered files on how to run a terrorist cell and other terrorist activities on his computers, and a number of “chilling” videos glorifying terrorism and the killing of hostages and those seen as enemies of insurgent factions in Iraq. Much of the material had been downloaded from a password-protected al-Qaeda internet site. All the documents were in Arabic. There were detailed instructions on how to make bombs and detonators. There was also a recipe for creating poisonous cyanide gas.

The court was told that Altimimi was linked to terrorists in the Netherlands and to Junade Ferouze, 31, of Blackburn, who was jailed last month for his part in bomb plots led by Dhinen Barot, named as al-Qaeda’s “general” in the UK. Altimimi will be sentenced with Yousuf Abdullah, 30, also of Bolton, real name Nashwan Gassar, who has admitted acquiring criminal property.

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