Leaders of a jihadi terror cell who planned an attack to rival 7/7 and transform Birmingham into a ‘little war zone’ could be free to walk the streets in weeks.
Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali were sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years in 2013.
But both have been granted Parole Board hearings in the coming weeks, meaning they could be released from jail.
The Parole Board told Mail Online Khalid has a hearing on January 18 and Ali has one in April.
The pair were leaders of the gang, along with Irfan Naseer, which was smashed by Britain’s biggest ever anti-terrorism probe.
Irfan Khalid, part of a Birmingham terror cell, was jailed for life in 2013 with a minimum term of 18 years but has a Parole Board hearing next week, Mail Online can reveal
Ashik Ali, also put behind bars in 2013 after being part of the same plot, is set to be considered for potential release in April
Irfan Naseer, Rahin Ahmed and Irfan Khalid were filmed carrying out a bogus charity collection to fund the attack, as shown in this hand-out photo from West Midlands Police after their trial
They planned to set off up to eight bombs in rucksacks, using timers to detonate the charges.
It was foiled in September 2011, when undercover police raided the cell amid fears the terrorist attack was imminent.
Detectives said it was the most significant to be foiled since a 2006 conspiracy to blow up transatlantic airliners using bombs disguised as soft drinks.
Their trial judge Mr Justice Henriques said the plot ‘had the blessing of al-Qaeda’ and with the intention to ‘further the aims of al-Qaeda’.
He told the defendants when sentencing them: ‘You were seeking to recruit a team of somewhere between six and eight suicide bombers to carry out a spectacular bombing campaign, one which would create an anniversary along the lines of 7/7 or 9/11.
‘It’s clear that you were planning a terrorist outrage in Birmingham.’
Khalid had boasted the attack would be ‘another 9/11’, while Ali told police he would have donned a suicide vest and shot soldiers.
Naseer, who remains in prison, was singled out at sentencing as the driving force behind the plot.
Naseer, Khalid and Ali, all from Birmingham, were seen collecting in the street ahead of their convictions at Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London
Irfan Naseer, described as the plot’s ringleader, was given five life sentences
The judge added: ‘Many deaths were planned by a determined team of individuals who were fully radicalised.
‘No lack of assets, skill or manpower was going to stop you.’
Tory MP Nigel Mills has now said: ‘It is a terrifying prospect to think that these two individuals could be freed in the coming weeks.
‘I sincerely hope the Parole Board takes into account the danger they posed and what death and destruction they were planning.’
The group posed as legitimate charity workers on the streets of Birmingham and collected thousands of pounds from unsuspecting members of the public.
Portraying themselves as Muslim Aid charity street collectors, they raised £12,000 for themselves but were forced to apply for tens of thousands of pounds in loans after losing more than £9,000 of the money playing foreign currency markets.
In total, 11 were jailed for 72 years at Woolwich Crown Court.
Their trial was told how ringleader Naseer was heard describing a series of blasts going off at the same time: ‘Boom … boom … boom.’
Irfan Khalid and Irfan Naseer were captured on camera arriving at Birmingham airport
A court artist depicted Irfan Naseer, Rahim Ahmed, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali in the dock as they went on trial for terror offences at Woolwich Crown Court in 2013
Naseer, then 28, and Khalid, 31 at the time, had travelled to Pakistan where they trained alongside al-Qaeda and learnt how to make homemade explosives.
During their stay the pair also recorded martyrdom videos, praising hate preacher Abu Qatada, which were meant to be released after their deaths.
When returning to Britain they then recruited Ali, 28, and transformed his one-bedroom local authority flat in Sparkhill into a bomb factory.
Naseer, dubbed ‘Chubbs’ due to his 23st bulk, said he wanted to turn Birmingham into a ‘little war zone’.
The gang also planned to make what they referred to as ‘The Ultimate Mowing Machine’ by welding knives to a truck and driving it into crowds.
Another idea suggesting cooking up poisonous hand cream and smearing it on car door handles.
Naseer was ultimately given five life sentences and ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years, while Ali – who confessed to police his role was to wear a suicide vest and carry a gun – was jailed for 15 years and Khalid 18.
Other members of the gang were jailed for a total of 74 years after pleading guilty at earlier hearings.
West Midlands Police revealed imagery of cold pack packaging found in a safe house set up by the gang in White Street, Birmingham, as they planned to create home-made explosives
There were also these collection tins seized by police as part of the major anti-terror probe
Chief financier Rahim Ahmed, 26, who achieved a law degree from Coventry University, was imprisoned for 12 years.
Ali’s brother, Bahadar, 29, and another man, Mohammed Rizwan, 34, were sentenced ro six and four years respectively after being recorded discussing attacks on Britain.
Mujahid Hussain, 21, who helped with the fundraising, was jailed for four years.
Shahid Khan, 21, Khobaib Hussain, 21, Ishaaq Hussain, 21, and Naweed Ali, 25, all travelled to Pakistan for terrorist training in August 2011 and were each sentenced to 40 months in prison after quickly returning home within days when shocked by the appalling conditions there.