An American woman’s botched assassination attempt in the UK, where she disguised herself in a niqab and tried to murder a shopkeeper for an online boyfriend she’d never met, exposes the disturbing reality of how foreign criminals exploit our communities and legal systems.
Story Highlights
- Aimee Betro sentenced to 30 years for failed Birmingham assassination attempt while disguised in niqab
- American woman recruited online by Mohammed Nazir to kill rival family member in UK feud
- Gun jammed during close-range murder attempt; Betro later fired shots into victim’s family home
- Five-year international manhunt ended with extradition from Armenia in January 2025
International Criminal Conspiracy Unfolds
Aimee Betro’s 30-year prison sentence represents the conclusion of one of the UK’s most bizarre international assassination plots. The 45-year-old American woman traveled thousands of miles to Birmingham in September 2019, recruited online by Mohammed Nazir to murder Sikander Ali in a family feud that had nothing to do with her. Disguised in a niqab, Betro approached Ali outside his South Yardley home and pulled the trigger at close range. Only a jammed weapon saved Ali’s life.
The failed assassination attempt stemmed from a violent brawl at Birmingham’s Noreen Seher Boutique in July 2018 between the families of Mohammed Aslam and Sikander Ali. Several individuals were hospitalized in the altercation, which escalated into a deadly vendetta. Nazir, Aslam’s son, methodically planned his revenge by recruiting Betro through online platforms, exploiting her apparent romantic attachment to execute his family’s violent agenda.
Calculated Violence and International Flight
Betro’s actions demonstrate premeditated criminal intent that extended beyond the initial murder attempt. Hours after the gun malfunction saved Ali’s life, she returned to his family home and fired three shots into the residence, endangering innocent family members including children. Birmingham Crown Court heard evidence of a “complex, well-planned conspiracy” that relied on international coordination and sophisticated planning to bring a foreign assassin into the UK.
The following day, Betro fled the United Kingdom, triggering an international manhunt that would span five years and multiple continents. She successfully evaded capture by hiding in Armenia, demonstrating the challenges law enforcement faces when criminals exploit international borders to escape justice. Detective Inspector Alastair Orencas described the case as “unique” due to its international scope and online recruitment methods.
Justice Delivered Through International Cooperation
The National Crime Agency’s successful extradition of Betro from Armenia in January 2025 demonstrates the importance of international law enforcement cooperation in pursuing transnational criminals. Judge Simon Drew emphasized during sentencing that Ali’s survival was purely by chance, noting that the conspiracy could have resulted in multiple deaths. Betro’s conviction on charges of conspiracy to murder, firearm possession with intent, and ammunition importation offenses sends a clear message about the consequences of international criminal activity.
This case reveals alarming vulnerabilities in how online platforms can facilitate violent criminal recruitment across international boundaries. The ease with which Nazir recruited an American woman to commit murder in the UK highlights the global reach of criminal networks and the potential for foreign actors to exploit local disputes. All principal conspirators, including Nazir and his father Mohammed Aslam, are now serving lengthy prison sentences, providing closure for the Ali family while demonstrating that international criminals cannot escape accountability.
Sources:
Failed US hitwoman jailed over bungled UK murder attempt – 1News
Sentencing Remarks – Aimee Betro – UK Judiciary
