A FAMILY park has been revealed as the venue for a potential death squad member to carry out his preparations for terrorist training in Pakistan.

During a trial at Manchester Crown Court the jury heard how taxi driver Habib Ahmed would run through Heaton Park in Higher Blackley with a heavy rucksack on his back.

Habib was convicted of being a member of al-Qaida and acting as ring-leader and senior figure within the terrorist organisation, Rangzieb Ahmed's, willing accomplice.

Rangzieb became the first person in Britain to be convicted of directing terrorism and the jury also found that the 33-year-old, who is from Rochdale, had plotted to build a terrorist cell here.

Habib, from Cheetham Hill, and Rangzieb were part of a group who planned to use their British base as a springboard for attacks in America.

Rangzieb had direct links with al Qaida's third-in-command.

During a visit to Pakistan Habib had learned how to make bombs and use firearms.

The gang's plans were scuppered when they were caught after a massive surveillance operation by police and the Security Service involving hours of phone tapping, computer monitoring and 24-hour surveillance.

It is understood that police did not wait for the pair to get further in their planning because as ‘committed terrorists intent on attacking British targets’ they were considered far too dangerous.

A security source said: "This was a very significant trial. Greater Manchester is regarded as very important in the fight against terrorism."

Det Chief Supt Tony Porter, head of GMP’s Counter Terrorism Unit, said of Rangzieb: "The result was of the utmost significance.

"This man was directly associated with the core of al-Qaida. He had direct contact with bombmakers and operational players. This result means people are safer." today."

Habib, 28, who is no relation to Rangzieb, was found guilty of ferrying an al-Qaida contact into Britain, using the internet to research explosive chemicals and convicted by a majority verdict of being a member of al-Qaida.

But he was cleared of attending a terrorist training camp in 2006. A jury also decided he had not used his computer to research targets or access further information about explosives and guerrilla warfare. His wife Mehreen Haji, 27, was also cleared of two counts of funding terrorist activity and walked free from court.

Rangzieb Ahmed, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday which is the maximum sentence for a person convicted of directing terrorism. He has been told he must serve at least 10 years.

Habib Ahmed, who was caught with two diaries containing details of top al-Qaeda operatives, described in court as a terrorist's contact book, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.