UK Man Convicted of ISIS Membership After Sharing Suicide Vest Instructions
A 24-year-old man in Britain has been convicted of terrorism offences after creating a Telegram group to distribute ISIS propaganda and material containing instructions for making homemade explosive belts. Abdullah Yousef, who lives in Milton Keynes, was found guilty of membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation following a two-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
Yousef had used Telegram to share extremist material supporting and glorifying ISIS, also known as Daesh. Among the content were videos praising the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, which killed nearly 3,000 people. In one message, he reportedly stated openly, “By the way, I am a terrorist.”
The court heard that investigators recovered a document titled “homemade explosive belts” from Yousef’s phone. Prosecutors said the document contained information that could potentially assist someone preparing an act of terrorism, including guidance related to suicide vests. Although the material did not provide every instruction required to construct such a device, prosecutors argued that it could still be useful to someone seeking to acquire the necessary knowledge.
Yousef was also convicted on six counts of disseminating a terrorist publication. Prosecutor Frederick Hookway told an earlier hearing that Yousef had exchanged messages with another Telegram user in May 2024 and had received a link that was subsequently used to make a pledge of allegiance to ISIS. Investigators then uncovered further material indicating his support for the organisation.
The prosecution said Yousef had shown a sustained interest in extremist Islamist material, particularly content associated with ISIS. His communications also allegedly demonstrated an intention to seek out knowledge connected with terrorism and violent extremist activities.
Yousef entered Britain illegally at around the age of 15 and claimed at the time that he had come from Syria. Prosecutors told the court that investigators now suspect he may actually have originated from Egypt, based partly on the dialect identified in material recovered from his phone. Despite entering the country illegally, he was later granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
The conviction means Yousef now faces a prison sentence for his involvement with ISIS-related activities and the dissemination and possession of terrorist material. The case has highlighted the continuing threat posed by online extremist networks, where encrypted messaging platforms can be used to circulate propaganda, recruitment material and potentially dangerous instructions.
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