Pictured: The chip shop terror suspect - man held over Christmas bomb plot 'only became a devout Muslim a year ago' and his conversion 'happened overnight'
- Terror suspect Andy Sami Star came to Britain as an asylum seeker ten years ago
- Until last year he'd shown no interest in Islam, according to his former girlfriend
- Previously the 31-year-old would drink glasses of wine and celebrated Christmas
- Star was arrested on Tuesday at a flat above his Mermaid Fish Bar in Chesterfield
- He was one of four terror suspects detained in raids in Sheffield and Derbyshire
- Joanne Mallinson broke up with Star due to increasingly strident religious beliefs
A chip shop terror suspect behind a foiled suspected Islamist Christmas bomb plot became a devout Muslim 'overnight', it was claimed yesterday.
Andy Sami Star, 31, came to Britain as an asylum seeker ten years ago, passing his British citizenship just three months ago.
Until this last year the 'charming and friendly' fish fryer had shown no interest in Islam, according to his former girlfriend, but he then became 'obsessed with religion'.
Previously he would drink wine and celebrated Christmas, even wearing a Santa-type hat on a Christmas Day trip.
Until this last year, Andy Sami Star had shown no interest in Islam, according to his former girlfriend, but he then became 'obsessed with religion' (shown drinking wine)
Joanne Mallinson, who was in a relationship with Andy Sami Star for around five years, told how she broke up with him due to concerns about his increasingly strident religious beliefs
Star, 31, came to Britain as an asylum seeker ten years ago, passing his British citizenship just three months ago
Star was arrested by counter-terrorism police on Tuesday at the flat above his Mermaid Fish Bar in Chesterfield, where he worked with his brother and handed out copies of the Koran to staff, according to a friend.
He was one of four terror suspects arrested on suspicion of preparing or instigating acts of terrorism in dramatic raids by armed police in Sheffield and Chesterfield.
Police said the four suspects – aged 31, 36, 22 and 41 – remained in custody and detectives have been given until Christmas Day to question them.
Share this article
Joanne Mallinson, who was in a relationship with Star for around five years, told how she broke up with him due to concerns about his increasingly strident religious beliefs.
'One day he never prayed and the next day he was going to pray every day and he took it seriously,' the 33-year-old said.
'I don't know why but it literally happened overnight. He said he wanted to change his life and started praying.'
Police vans are pictured today parked up outside the fish and chip shop in Chesterfield
Police (pictured yesterday) descended on the chip shop and are thought to have raided the flat above it
An officer is seen searching above the ceiling of the Mermaid Fish Bar in Chesterfield yesterday following the raids and arrests
Officers smashed windows and doors to gain entry to the properties, such as the Fatima Community Centre on Brunswick Road, in Sheffield
Restaurant worker Miss Mallinson met Star when she worked with him at a chip shop in Sheffield.
'He never socialised and spent all his time with me,' she said. 'Andy drank wine and beer and showed no interest in religion although he was a Muslim.'
Star's first name is Hazhar but he called himself Andy after an Armenian singer songwriter. He had grown a beard recently.
Miss Mallinson said Star arrived in the UK from his homeland Iraqi Kurdistan, where he still has family, about ten years ago.
He was later granted indefinite leave to stay and passed his citizenship test three months ago.
The couple saw each other 'on and off' until about six months ago, with Miss Mallinson saying that even after his religious transformation Star was 'very much against Isis'.
Four addresses in Sheffield - with one in the Meersbrook area, two in Burngreave and one in the Stocksbridge area - and another in Chesterfield, are being searched by police. Pictured is the Fatima Community Centre in Sheffield
Police guard an address on Shirebrook Road, Sheffield which was one of the properties raided
Police evacuated an area in Chesterfield while bomb squad officers (pictured left, yesterday) assessed the scene. At the same time officers stormed into three properties in Sheffield (right)
Yesterday, police raided a flat at the back of the Fatima Community Centre (pictured today)
But his devotion to religion ultimately broke up their relationship. 'He totally changed and was not the person I knew anymore,' she said.
'I am not a Muslim and I didn't want to go down that route ...Towards the last few months all he would go on about is Islam.'
Miss Mallinson said she was shocked by news of the police raid at the chip shop, as despite her fears about Star she believes he is an unlikely terror suspect, adding: 'He was everyone's friend and was always willing to help people, he was very caring.
'I have been in shock all day.'
Other friends also expressed shock that he was a suspect.
Jordan Batteson, 25, who lives near the Mermaid Fish Bar, said: 'He was a really nice guy, really friendly. I used to go in there to get my chips. He gave the staff copies of the Koran.'
A close friend of Star said: 'I can't believe it ... I don't know what happened, he was a nice guy ... I am sure he is innocent.'
Police at the scene of one of the raids in Chesterfield yesterday which appeared to involve a flat above a fish and chip shop
A large police presence today outside Fatima Community Centre on Brunswick Road, Sheffield
The centre was closed today after the anti-terror operation that took place across Sheffield
Miss Mallinson's mother Norma said of Star: 'He was thoughtful and ever so friendly, I thought they might get married. More recently he would try to preach religion at me.'
Officers have been granted until Christmas Day to decide whether to charge the four men.
Specialist teams returned to the scene in Chesterfield, Derbyshire on Wednesday to assist with ongoing searches, North East Counter Terrorism Unit said.
The force have asked residents to be 'alert but not alarmed' after the raid on Mermaid Tradition Fish Bar on Sheffield Road.
In Sheffield, a mosque and community centre in Brunswick Road, Burngreave, was sealed off, with local people telling stories of being woken at 6am by a series of loud bangs and camouflaged officers with guns.
A member of the public walks past a line of police outside the Fatima Community Centre
Police in Chesterfield: The arrests were intelligence led and pre-planned as part of an ongoing investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East
According to witnesses a man was later taken from the property.
An Army bomb squad was deployed in Chesterfield, where armed officers and investigators focused on the fish and chip shop.
A close friend of Star, from the Kurdish community, who did not want to be named, said: 'I can't believe it to be honest. I knew him, he was my friend.
'I don't know what happened, he was a nice guy. All I can think is that someone has taken advantage of him. I am sure he is innocent.
'I don't know the three other guys involved, but they must have used him, taken advantage. I was so shocked when I was told he had been arrested.
'It is very sad. I can't say anymore than that.'
Police officers stand outside Fatima Community centre on Brunswick Road in Sheffield on Wednesday
Most watched News videos
- Hilarious moment cat grabs mail after waiting for postie
- Man saves a choking Jack Russell terrier with Heimlich manoeuvre
- Doctor in Surrey shows footage of men who 'stole' from his car
- Female clubber stuns crowds by climbing onto second floor of pub
- Hilarious moment a group of gorillas try to stay out of the rain
- Megan Barton-Hanson shares video of her friend being mugged
- Spanish matador wipes away tears of bull before killing it
- Climate change activists protest from Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Wrestlers surround Silver King after he collapses in ring
- Shocking road rage footage shows man smashing windscreen
- Shocking moment students throw punches at deputy principal in brawl
- Lewis Hamilton fan surprised by Formula 1 car parked outside home
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
