Walsall mosque in bomb plot scare set to expand

The Aisha Mosque and Islamic Centre in Walsall was targeted by Ukrainian Pavlo Lapshyn who triggered a string of explosions in the Black Country.

Members have moved on from the dramatic events of last June and now a new two-storey extension has been put forward for the site in Rutter Street, Caldmore.

The development would include a washing facility, bedroom, living room and storage space.

Lapsyhn was jailed for at least 40 years after starting a 90-day campaign of terror just five days after coming to the country.

This included planting homemade explosives in Walsall, Wolverhampton and Tipton and stabbing pensioner Mohammed Saleem to death as he walked home from evening prayers in Birmingham on April 29 last year.

The application for the mosque extension will go before Walsall Council's planning committee or considered by officers under delegated powers in the coming months.

A fresh, revised proposal has now been put forward after an initial scheme was accepted in 2012.

The application put forward by agent Stephen Morris says: "The building works on the previous design plan had revealed historic problems with the neighbouring property.

"The Aisha Mosque Committee has decided to take a fresh look at this whole extension and agreed to this new design which achieves the same purpose as previously but will create a better design and improved internal space usage and better exit space. The new extension will not encourage or attract new members but will provide improved facilities for the existing worshippers.

"Two large community rooms have been added to allow the congregation to increase usage."

Senior member of the mosque, Zia Ul-Haq, said it will create more room. "It is something we were working on prior to the incident," he said. "It has been on the cards for a long time. Once we get the approved plans we will know the cost."

Following the sentence of Lapsyhn, images of the self-styled terrorist were revealed showing him teaching himself how to make and detonate explosives like those he used to blast Black Country mosques.