Keighley firebomber Moham-med Khalid, who waged a year-long campaign of terror in the town, is to be kept in Rampton top-security hospital indefinitely.

The father-of-five was convicted 12 months ago of starting a £3 million blaze which destroyed the Netto supermarket in Keighley, along with an adjoining shop and church. He was also found guilty of planting bombs made from fireworks, petrol, batteries, watches and wire outside various properties in the Highfield and Lawkholme areas between November 1995 and November 1996.

Khalid, 39, of Otterburn Street, was convicted of arson with intent to endanger life and 12 offences of possessing explosives. Ordering that he be detained at Rampton without time limit under the Mental Health Act, Judge Gerald Coles said at Bradford Crown Court this week that the jury had returned guilty verdicts on 'overwhelming evidence'.

He told Khalid: "Unlike terrorist activity your motive came, I fear, from the recesses of a diseased mind. You are quite clearly suffering from mental illness. You are a danger to the public."

The court heard from two consultant psychiatrists who felt Khalid was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.

Judge Coles praised the way police and scientific experts had carried out the investigation. He singled out three officers for special commendation - Det Supt Brian Taylor, Sgt Jim McSharry and Det Con Neil Pickering, who has since died.

He also ordered that Keighley men Mohammed Sadiq Nazir and Shaban Islam, who helped the investigation by drawing police attention to the defendant, should receive £300 each.

from public funds.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.