He said: “Mr Newby realised something was amiss and began to talk to him instead of walking away.
“That simple act of kindness almost certainly saved many lives that night because, as the defendant was later to tell the police officers who arrested him, Mr Newby succeeded in ‘talking him down’.”
An investigation found he had become self-radicalised through accessing extremist material online, and had obtained bomb-making instructions in a magazine published by Al Qaeda to encourage lone wolf terrorist attacks against the West.
Movements of Farooq’s mobile phone and car showed he made at least two visits to the area of Menwith Hill in the 10 days leading up to his arrest, jurors were told.
Mr Sandiford said the base had been designated as a target by IS because it was believed it had been used to co-ordinate drone strikes against terrorists.
Farooq admitted firearms offences, possessing an explosive substance with intent and having a document likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism.
Counter terrorism police described Farooq as an “extremely dangerous individual”.
Det Supt Paul Greenwood, Head of Investigations for Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said the defendant was “primarily motivated by a Daesh-inspired ideology, but also by his own, deep-seated grievances”.
He added: “We are sincerely grateful for the actions of Nathan Newby that morning, whose bravery and willingness to calm Farooq prevented him from fully realising his plans.
“Had he not intervened the outcome could have been devastating.”
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