A British Muslim has been convicted of plotting to carry out a terrorist attack after a joint operation between MI5 and Scotland Yard.
Sahayb Aweys Munye Abu, 27, from east London, was convicted of trying to buy weapons, including a large sword, and equipment online in preparation for an attack against an unspecified target in Britain.
— CourtNewsUK (@CourtNewsUK) March 12, 2021
He also visited websites where he chatted with other Daesh* sympathisers and shared his jihadist views.
Hours before he was arrested he posted a message in a chatroom saying "we need a 9/11 2.0," a reference to the attack on the World Trade Center in New York in 2001.
As he was taken from the court at the Old Bailey, crying, Muhamed yelled: "You convicted a clown. He's a clown, a buffoon. He's a has-been." 7/
— Duncan Gardham (@DuncanGardham) March 12, 2021
Detectives seized his mobile phones and laptop and found dozens of messages, including videos in which Abu rapped in a painfully out of tune voice about jihad.
— Duncan Gardham (@DuncanGardham) March 12, 2021
In one rap he referred to himself as a “straight ISIS supporter,” sang about “heads rolling on the ground” and included the lyric: “got my suicide vest, one click boom and I’ll see you later.”
After his arrest Abu denied he planned to commit a terrorist attack and said the sword and other items were just props designed to be used in parody “drill” music videos.
His brother Muhamed - who was cleared of failing to disclose information about terrorist attacks - told the jury at the Old Bailey Abu was nothing but a “clown”.
— Daniel De Simone (@DdesimoneDaniel) March 12, 2021
But Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, disagreed.
He said: “Over several months, Abu sought to obtain weapons and the equipment needed to commit a terrorist attack. He is an extremely dangerous individual, but we were able to intervene and arrest him before he was able to carry out his attack.”
*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia
