Police officer jailed over hoax terror call to his own force

Amar Tasaddiq Hussain sparked a nationwide alert by sending anonymous warning

West Midlands Police photo of policeman Amar Tasaddiq Hussain, who has been jailed after making a hoax call to his own force. Photograph: West Midlands Police/PA Wire
West Midlands Police photo of policeman Amar Tasaddiq Hussain, who has been jailed after making a hoax call to his own force. Photograph: West Midlands Police/PA Wire

A police officer who sparked a nationwide terror alert in England by making a hoax 999 call to his own force has been jailed for seven years.

Amar Tasaddiq Hussain sent West Midlands Police into "overdrive" after phoning through an anonymous warning that a terrorist with links to Syria was planning to kidnap a Muslim policeman.

Jailing Hussain at Stafford Crown Court, Judge Michael Chambers QC criticised the 29-year-old officer for showing no remorse and pleading not guilty in the face of overwhelming evidence.

PA