Patient Prevents Hospital Bombing With Kindness and Courage

Nathan Newby, a hospital patient, played a heroic role on January 20, 2023, when he talked Mohammad Farooq out of detonating a bomb intended for the maternity wing of St James's Hospital, Leeds. Newby’s act of bravery, which involved compassion and calmness, has earned him the George Medal, Britain’s second-highest civilian gallantry award, presented to him today.

Farooq, who worked at the hospital, entered with a homemade pressure cooker bomb, aiming to kill nurses. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 37 years. During his trial, it was revealed that Farooq had become radicalized by Islamic State ideology and harbored a longstanding grudge against the nursing staff from his time there.

Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb, who presided over the case, described Newby’s actions on that fateful night: "His decency and kindness... prevented an atrocity." She added that his evidence was among the most remarkable the court had ever heard.

Speaking publicly for the first time before the medal ceremony, the 35-year-old Newby recounted the harrowing encounter. He had stepped outside for a vape when he noticed Farooq standing with his hands deep inside his pockets, swaying anxiously. "I just went over to see if he was alright, to see if I could make him feel a bit more comfortable," Newby recalled. "I said: ‘How are you, pal? Are you alright?’ and it just went from there really."

About an hour into their conversation, Farooq revealed he was there for revenge and admitted to carrying a bomb. Newby described how he could hear the seriousness of Farooq's words, stating, "It wasn’t a joke... So I asked to have a look at it, just to confirm it, and then he just happily opened it up and showed me it." The bomb contained approximately 10 kilograms of explosives, estimated to be double the size of the device used during the 2013 Boston Marathon attack.

Faced with the imminent threat, Newby’s instinct was to keep Farooq calm and move him away from the crowded hospital entrance. "I thought if it goes off, it’s just going to be me and him, and I want to make sure it’s just me and him and not no one else," he explained. He tactically led Farooq to nearby benches, calculating that if the bomb detonated there, it would only damage the entrance doors rather than the entire building.

Throughout their two-hour conversation, Newby focused on human connection, asking Farooq about his family and personal life. "He seemed normal," Newby said. "I don’t judge anybody. Everybody’s different and unique... I didn’t judge him." At one point, Farooq asked for a hug to help calm his nerves. Newby obliged, saying, "Of course you can."

Eventually, Farooq instructed Newby to call the police, warning him, "Phone the police before I change my mind." Newby, having previously run out of battery on his phone, managed to use Farooq’s phone to contact emergency services. During the call, he subtly filmed Farooq, capturing the moment that would lead to the man's arrest.

Armed officers arrived shortly after, detaining Farooq without incident. Newby, still processing the gravity of the situation, said the enormity of what had occurred didn’t hit him until he was sitting inside a police van after Farooq was taken into custody. "It started sinking that it could have been different," he recalled. "Emotions started coming; it was like wow, that just happened."

Farooq was described by authorities during the trial not just a terrorist but a self-radicalized lone wolf, motivated by grievances against his colleagues. He had previously watched anti-West propaganda and downloaded terrorist handbooks, including instructions on bomb-making. The police discovered knives and an imitation gun upon his arrest.

Newby, who was undergoing treatment for a chest infection at the time, expressed that he does not see himself a hero but rather a person who was "just at the right place at the right time." He emphasized the importance of kindness, stating, "I like to think that anybody would do that. Some people are strong, and some people handle things differently, but it’s just me, it’s just how I am."

Highlighting the psychological toll of such events, Newby noted, "If I hadn’t been a patient at the hospital that night, I would have been at home, and he would have gone for it. I would have been seeing it on the news." His humility and insight into human nature have resonated widely, with many considering his actions a beacon of hope and humanity.

Newby’s story serves not just to highlight a narrowly averted tragedy but also to remind us of the power of human connection and compassion. His willingness to engage with Farooq, to understand him rather than to react with fear, exemplifies a path forward even when faced with the most dire situations. The George Medal ceremony, taking place at St James's Palace, marks a recognition of not just bravery but the extraordinary impact of kindness.

"I probably will think about that night if someone brings it up, and then it’s like, it’s crazy how it could have gone so differently," Newby said, encapsulating the fragility of life and the unexpected moments that can change everything.