Crime Solicitors

The Old Bailey has sentenced a man convicted on 13 counts of terrorism to four-and-a-half years in prison.

Mustafa Abdullah had travelled to Syria between November 2013 and May 2014, to an area where conflict was intense at the time.

When his phone was searched on his arrival back in the UK, it was found to have stored a large number of firearms-related videos that would be considered useful to an individual committing or planning to commit an act of terrorism.

A subsequent search of his home address revealed other similar material –
and, in particular, three audio files of lectures giving detailed instructions for terrorists preparing to engage in guerrilla warfare.

Folders were found on his phone with names such as “military folder”, “Valhalla training centre folder” and a “vids folder”.

Abdullah had attempted to delete many of these folders prior to his arrival back in the UK – and he claimed he had travelled to Syria for humanitarian reasons.

However, one of the videos found within a folder was a film called “Close range gun fighting (advanced)” – and turned out to be a training video showing how to use a firearm to kill people in close combat.

A large number of the videos contained material which would be useful to an anyone preparing to engage in acts of terrorism.

Abdullah had claimed not to know these files existed on his phone. However, following examination of the phone, it was proved that Abdullah had accessed at least some of them at some point during his time abroad and had viewed them.

The 13 offences he was convicted of were contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

After sentencing, a CPS spokesperson said:

“The evidence found on Mustafa Abdullah's phone strongly indicated that he was preparing or planning an act of terrorism.

“Many of the videos had links to Jihad and detailed how to use weapons with the intention being to kill.

“He had claimed to have been travelling to Syria for humanitarian reasons –
however, pictures found on his phone showing Abdullah holding an automatic assault rifle suggested a more sinister purpose to his visit.

“There was also no evidence on his laptop, tablets and phones of having carried out any research into humanitarian work.

“The most chilling of the articles found was that of an Arabic lecture containing detailed instructions on how to research and carry out a terrorist attack on a city centre.”

Duncan Lewis Terrorism Solicitors

Duncan Lewis terrorism solicitors are available 24/7 365 days a year to advise at any stage of a charge involving terrorism offences, including charges relating to preparing for acts of terrorism, encouraging others to commit acts of terrorism, firearms or knife offences, carrying out acts of terrorism, hate crime, inciting religious or racial hatred, or funding terrorism.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities and a criminal defence solicitor can usually reach a police station for interview under caution within an hour.

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid criminal defence services.

For expert legal advice on terrorism offences, call Duncan Lewis terrorism solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.