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Britain’s youngest convicted terrorist was sentenced to two years in a young offender institution yesterday.
Hammaad Munshi, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was 15 when he was recruited into a worldwide plot to wipe out non-Muslims.
He was arrested in 2006 after police found material promoting “murder and destruction”, including a guide to making napalm, on his computer and under his bed. Now 18, he was convicted of making a record of information likely to be used for terrorist purposes.
Munshi, a GCSE student and grandson of a leading Islamic scholar, led a double life, obediently attending school by day and surfing jihadist websites at night. He was part of a cell of cyber groomers devoted to brainwashing the vulnerable into killing “kuffar”, or non-believers. The court was told that he wished to become a martyr.
Sentencing the teenager yesterday at the Old Bailey, Judge Timothy Pontius said that he had given Munshi a lighter sentence because the boy had fallen “under the spell of fanatical extremists” who took advantage of his naivety.
The judge added: “There is no doubt that you knew what you were doing.” He said that the nature of what Munshi downloaded, including a document called How to Make Napalm, made it a “particularly serious offence”.
He told Munshi: “You have brought very great shame upon yourself, your family and your religion.
“However, in the light of the evidence, I have no doubt at all that you, amongst others of similar immaturity and vulnerability, fell under the spell of fanatical extremists, and your codefendant Aabid Khan in particular.
“They took advantage of your youthful naivety in order to indoctrinate you with pernicious and warped ideas masquerading as altruistic religious zeal. Were it not for Aabid Khan’s malign influence, I doubt this offence would ever have been committed.”
The judge said that he took into account Munshi’s age, but added: “It is plainly a case where deterrence must be in the forefront of the court’s mind.” Harendra de Silva, QC, for the defence, said that the student had been subjected to “grooming and manipulation” by others who were “more criminally inclined”.
During his trial, Blackfriars Crown Court was told that he downloaded files about making napalm, detonators and grenades for himself, Khan and Sultan Muhammad. The student was desperate to go abroad and fight and had internet discussions with Khan about how to smuggle a sword past airport security.
Munshi ran a website selling hunting knives and Islamic flags and had the online profile “fidadee”, meaning a “person ready to sacrifice himself”. He was arrested in 2006 as he made his way home from school.
In a statement on behalf of Munshi’s family, his grandfather said: “As a family we have always tried to abide by and uphold the laws of the United Kingdom of which we are proud to be citizens. We respect, therefore, today’s judgment. But like any other family in this country, we are deeply upset by the situation in which Hammaad finds himself. The past 2½ years have been stressful, not only for him and our family, but also for the whole community in Saville Town. All of us feel there are lessons to be learnt, not only for us, but also for the whole Muslim community in this country. This case demonstrates how a young impressionable teenager can be groomed so easily through the internet to associate with those whose views run contrary to true Muslim beliefs and values.”
Khan, 23, of Undercliffe, Bradford, was jailed for 12 years on three counts of possessing articles for terrorism.
Muhammad, 23, of Manningham, Bradford, was given ten years for three similar charges and one of compiling information for terror.
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Now whatever you do on the internet is liable to make you a terrorist. Great. I can spread terror on the streets of London, intimidating even robbing people, without ever being branded a terrorist. Yet if I download things, even though I still haven't done anybody any harm, I'll be sent to jail for
Unfrench, Stock on Trent, Senegal
From what I can make of it he's been locked up for looking at a few websites. He didn't actually do anything. Seems harsh to me. I suppose it's a thought crime. I wonder who'll be next to be locked up for reading a book or looking at the internet.
Simon, Maidstone, Kent
You can tell from his picture that he exudes attitude.
He needs to be publicly caned, and then parachuted into the middle of the Thar desert, where all the other Pakistanis who show no respect for the values and generosity of Britain belong.
Antonio, Estepona,
Person convicted of assault causing great bodily harm will get two years, but for someone convicted of a terrorist offence given the same level of sentence? Hey guys, is ok to be a terrorist...you are likely to get 2 years with our prison overcrowding u will be out in 2 days!
dominik, london,
Should not these people also be charged with treason?
Fraser James, Whitstable,
There ought to be a travel advisory on any country where terrorism is rife.People ought to have exit interviews and need visas to travel to and from Pakistan. And not many should be issued. Which would hit poor Pakistan in its terrorist apologists wallet. Cut the umbilicus.This is home or not.
Eric, Croydon, UK
Phil, Preston: But the Islamic Scriptures give you the same message as the Bible and Taurat, don't they? About Good & Evil. Right & Wrong. Hell & Heaven, Jesus & Moses. Read the scriptures, not the tabloids, Phil!
Iqbal, Derby, UK
The joke is a UK law that sentences a juvenile to prison, despite all claims of "human rights". This case will get thrown out on appeal. Its one thing to discuss "killing" but another to actually plot. Unfortunately, in the frenzy of Islam bashing, UK public's otherwise astute judgement seems to lag
A. Khan, London,
Stop being outraged. Diversity is our "strength." Can't you Brits stop and for once, appreciate the "enrichment' provided by this fellow and his co-conspirators?
MaryJ, San Francisco, USA
Just a hiccup on the road to an Islamic Britain and Islamic Europe. Those who are carrying out this process with their brainwashing and their reproduction must laugh at the effete and decadent westerners who seem incapable of defending themselves and their future.
MikeP, Toronto, canada
Islam is NOT a "religion" as the west understands it. It is a totalitarian, supremacist form of fascism of the worst kind. Its too bad Britain does not have the death penalty. Put the millions for incarceration into a Victim of Islamic Terror fund and to rebuild the infrastructure.
marat, London,
I just think its another example on the system being easy on muslims for fear of being seen an islamaphobic.
This young man is clearly a danger to society, and should be treated as such instead of getting a slap on the wrist.
pathetic
kyle smith, bristol, uk
he was sentenced in HR Court of Law, if any body isnt happy go and live in a banana country and make ur own Laws.
Saeed, London,
I was so disappointed to see such a light sentence for such a frightening crime. Then I read your comments, you are outraged too. It's just a pathetic liberal judge worried about hurting someones feelings rather than defending the citizens they are sworn to protect. Same thing happens here - scary.
Melissa, Arizona, USA
As of yet no one person has appeared in court or even charged
with planning and actually carrying out mass murder on an unimaginable scale in Iraq. Too busy perhaps pointing the finger at how nasty the nazis were and 1966 really was a good year for english football. Who opened europes door to this ?
Paul Gibbons, Milton Keynes, UK
Not enough. Him and his family must be deported back to Pakistan. Few day ago, Pakistan's High Commissioner threatened that 2 million Pakistanis who live in Ggreat Britain will act, if Britain do not stop American forces from pursuing Taleban into Pakistan. Do you have enough prison for 2 million ?
Safiullah Tazib, London, UK
How pathetic the English have become - the idiot judge ought to get 5 years for this ridiculous sentence. If he is old to plan murder he is old enough for a real jail sentence.
This indicates it is forgiveable/not a big deal for young muslims to plan mass murder.
David, London,
Repatriate him
Phill, The Wirral, England
This is not an adult. A schoolboy of 15 got led astray by older people who were the real culprits. For his age, the sentence was a severe one, serving the purpose of deterrence, as the judge said.
Miland Joshi, Birmingham,
"part of a cell of internet groomers working to recruit more potential terrorists" - a job he'll no doubt happily continue inside the Young Offenders Institute.
Hope someone keeps an eye on this evil young man while he's inside or we will have even more trouble in years to come from his converts
Annabelle, Reading, UK
A ridiculous sentence!! He is old enough to be a soldier, so is no longer a "schoolboy".
Iff this attitude continues Britain is finished.
Brian P O Cinneide, eThekwini, Afrika Borwa
To those "only 2 years!" posters: adolescents at 15 are very susceptible and easily manipulated. This boy isn't a hardened "terrorist"; he's had bad influence. Education and (re-)integration to society are the primary motivation for the internment of young people, not merciless punishment.
Matt, Berlin, Germany
Hammaad Munshi was a good student....... Europe as a whole is beign invaded and thanks to liberal policies towards people who do not want to be European but to impose their views upon us by force. "England expects that every man will do his duty" once again....
F.B., Madrid, Spain
He should attend Bible reading lessons.....
Islamic scriptures appear to be a form of indoctrination
Phil, Preston,
Why only two years for this face of evil? He will be out in 9 months plotting how to kill us all again. It makes me sick to see how weak our justice system is and how little the government does to protect us.
The Met want 5 years for carrying a gun but for plotting mass murder 2 years. What a joke!
Richard , Nottingham,