A hero talked a would-be bomber out of blowing up a hospital

A hero who talked a would-be bomber out of blowing up a maternity ward has spoken out for the first time as he prepares to receive an award for his bravery.Nathan Newby, 35, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, convinced Mohammad Farooq not to proceed with the atrocity at the city's St James's Hospital on January 20, 2023.The 'self-radicalised lone-wolf terrorist' had taken a homemade pressure cooker bomb to the ward with the intention to 'kill as many nurses as possible'.But Mr Newby, who was a patient at the time but had stepped out for a smoke break, spotted Farooq 'swaying' unusually as he stood outside the building, a trial heard.He checked on him to make sure he was alright, which began several hours of heart-to-heart conversation – and diffused the situation.Not only did the would-be attacker confess to having a bomb, he 'asked for a cuddle' several times, before eventually saying: 'Phone the police before I change my mind.'