Police seized a number of mobile phones and identified videos on his laptop that provided instruction to turn a mobile phone into a bomb trigger, also present were other guides including the “car bomb recognition guide” that provided instructions to blow up petrol using a shotgun cartridge and was downloading a video on making a suicide vest at the time Police attended his home.
Also seized were 71.8 litres of petrol and 2 kgs of potassium nitrate and a shotgun cartridge.
The Defendant had described himself as a “terrorist” and a “sniper” during Internet conversations.
The Prosecution alleged that the Defendant had downloaded a folder named “Hezbollah military instruction manuals” that contained videos in Arabicand consisted of instructional films on how to make various weapons including detonators, explosives, a missile and a suicide bomber belt as well as instructions on placing landmines and how to strip an AK-47 automatic rifle.
Three computers were also found to contain moving images of live beheadings by Islamic groups and a number of clips of groups with the Iraq, Afghanistan and Chechnya conflicts including US soldiers being shot and personel being blown up.
Documents on the computers included the The Mujahedeen Explosives Handbook.
After 4 weeks of Trial at Preston Crown Court, including attendance by an Athena Forensic Computer and Mobile Phone Forensic Expert for 4 days, the Defendant was acquitted on 5 out of 10 of the charges and found guilty on the remainder.
