Sharing of extreme Islamist terrorist publications leads to prosecution

During a two-week trial held at the Central Criminal Court (ie The Old Bailey), jurors heard that a search warrant was executed by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South East at the 21-year-old’s family home back in November 2022. Officers seized a number of electronic devices which, following thorough and careful examination, were found to contain evidence of Sajid’s extreme Islamist ideology.

As a result, Sajid was arrested by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South East in January last year.

The Central Criminal Court heard that officers found a large amount of material on Sajid’s mobile phone that had been added to the social media messaging app Telegram. He used the name ‘John Ross’ in his Telegram chats, stating in one of those chats that the alias was to avoid him being arrested.

Creation of videos

Further investigation revealed that Sajid regularly shared material with other users on the chats and downloaded, edited and created his own videos based on ISIS footage, which he further shared.

The videos Sajid created contained footage of soldiers fighting, mass executions, beheadings, ISIS flag waving and celebrations carried out to the sound of hip hop or techno music. On the chats, Sajid often requested specific videos and nasheeds (I songs) related to ISIS, which he then used to create his own videos.

The Central Criminal Court also heard details of how Sajid had sent a video published by the Al-Qaeda media wing, which encouraged acts of terrorism against the West. It featured footage of the Lee Rigby killers, ALM members, imagery of 9/11 and jihadi fighters training, the 7/7 bombings and a video of Osama Bin Laden.

Group chats

Evidence showed that Sajid was also part of group chats with other members in which they shared graphic and extremist content with each other.

The Central Criminal Court also heard that Sajid posted videos on the chat which he appeared to have edited, including montages of improvised explosive devices, executions by gunshot, beheadings and flag waving for ISIS, overlaid with drill music.

Following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing South East, with support from Counter Terrorism Policing South West, Sajid was charged with the offences on 18 October last year.

Terrorist publications

Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East, explained: “Sajid shared a large number of horrific videos including graphic beheadings, ISIS footage and other content which reflected his extreme Islamist mindset. He attempted to cover his tracks in his social media messages, but it’s clear much of the material he sent could be defined as terrorist publications.”  

Wright continued: “The harm caused by sharing this type of content with others cannot be underestimated. It can be picked up by others and the dangerous rhetoric contained within can then be spread far and wide.”

Sajid is due to be sentenced at the Central Criminal Court on 13 September.