Detectives uncovered extremist Daesh propaganda on a mobile phone hidden beneath a mattress at 20-year-old Nuh Raheel’s flat in Birmingham. The police raid, which was pre-planned, took place in October 2020.
Raheel appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday where he was sentenced to three and a half years in a youth offenders’ institution, followed by one year on extended licence.
The court heard that Raheel admitted to five charges of collecting information likely to be useful to terrorists. The judge described the materials as “chilling” and “dangerous,” and praised the police for their thorough investigation.
Commander Richard Smith of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command said, “Raheel sought out and saved manuals that encouraged terrorist acts, and fuelled his extremist mindset. This propaganda is produced to promote terrorist aims and is extremely harmful.”
He added, “We urge anyone who finds extremist content online to report it to the police.”
The investigation began in August 2020 when the Met Counter Terrorism Command flagged a digital account containing extremist Islamist literature. Further inquiries linked the account to Raheel.
On October 13, 2020, police raided Raheel’s home in Birmingham and arrested him. The mobile phone found hidden under the mattress contained weapons manuals, instructions on killing, making explosives, and evading the police.
Key dates in the case include:
- October 18, 2020: Raheel was charged with seven counts of gathering terrorist materials.
- October 19, 2020: He made his first court appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court.
- July 30, 2021: Raheel pleaded guilty to five charges at Birmingham Crown Court.
- April 19, 2022: He was found not guilty of other related terror charges after trial at Leicester Crown Court.
Raheel’s conviction highlights the ongoing efforts by police to crack down on individuals involved in extremist propaganda. Authorities remain committed to pursuing those who stockpile dangerous terrorist manuals online.
Originally published by UKNIP.
