Edward Little: Sentence increased for Hyde Park gun attack plotter

A man who planned a gun attack at central London's Hyde Park has had his jail sentence increased.

Edward Little, 22, had intended to kill Christian preacher Hatun Tash after travelling from Brighton to the capital on 23 September 2022.

He had £5,000 to buy a firearm and bullets when he was arrested by police.

Little was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 16 years on 15 December, but this has now been increased to a minimum of 24 years.

Muslim convert Little previously admitted preparing to commit acts of terrorism and was sentenced in his absence after refusing to attend the hearing at the Old Bailey.

Counter terrorism police said the new sentence was given at a hearing at the same court under Section 155 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 - which allows judges to re-sentence individuals if fresh information comes to light.

During his trial, the Old Bailey heard Little planned to target Ms Nash after deciding against an attack on the late Queen's funeral in Westminster.

Little's previous convictions include 14 offences in seven separate cases, including for robbery, having a knife and drug dealing, dating back to 2017.

It follows the sentencing of three members of a crime gang who were jailed for conspiring to provide Little with a gun.

In a separate case at Inner London Crown Court, Reis Forde, 27, Caleb Wenyeve, 21, and Tyler King, also 21, were jailed after admitting being party to a plot to sell Little a gun, although it was accepted they did not know it was for a terror attack.

Forde was jailed for 13 years and six months, Wenyeve for 12 years and King for 10 years and nine months. All three admitted conspiring to transfer a prohibited firearm.

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