Counter Terror Business - Terrorism

Man to appear in court over alleged Somalia terror links

Angela Pisanu — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:57:29 +0000

43-year-old Jermaine Grant is due to appear in court due to his alleged involvement with a terrorist group based in Somalia.

Jermaine Grant is charged with three counts of attending a place used for terrorist purposes, two counts of possession of an article for terrorist purposes, and one count of directing the activities of a terrorist organisation.

Frank Ferguson, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “We have decided to prosecute Jermaine Grant with directing the activities of a terrorist organisation, three counts of attending a place for terrorist purposes and two counts of possession of an article for terrorist purposes.

“The charges relate to Mr Grant’s alleged involvement in 2008 and 2009 with Al-Shabaab, a terrorist organisation operating in Somalia.

“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

“We have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command as it carried out its investigation.

“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Jermaine Grant will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 9 April 2026.

UK terror threat level under review

Polly Jones — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Defence secretary John Healy has said that the terror threat level in the UK is under review, amid concerns about Iranian retaliation to US and Israeli strikes.

The current threat level is substantial - the third of five levels.

Speaking on Sky News, Healy said that Iran had sponsored 20 attempted terror attack in the UK over recent years.

According to reports, at least 201 people have been killed in Iran through US and Israeli attacks, including 153 in a reported attack of a girl's primary school in Southern Iran.

Several people have also been killed by Iranian attacks across the Middle East. Iranian attacks have hit airports and hotels in Kuwait, Dubai and Bahrain.

Two missiles were fired from Iran towards Cyprus, where the UK has an RAF base.

Healy said: "Our alert and our vigilance in the UK is also high.

"I've got full confidence in our intelligence agencies and our ability to deal with the terrorist threats."

The i Paper reported on Tuesday that British intelligence is monitoring Iranian sleeper cells in the UK.

Man convicted of terrorism offence

Polly Jones — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:31:13 +0000

A man has been convicted of terrorism offences after his phone was seized during a schedule 7 stop at a London airport has been convicted of terrorism offences.

Declan George-Candiani was stopped at Stansted Airport by counter-terrorism police on 13 August 2024.

He was arrested after the contents of his phone were analysed and a search of his home was carried out.

Detectives found extreme right-wing material and documents likely to be useful to someone committing or preparing an act of terrorism, including guides on how to commit lone-wolf attacks.

George-Candiani said he started to access the material after he developed an interest in an extreme-right wing group advocating “traditional Satanism”.

On Friday 3 October, he was convicted of two counts of collection of material likely to be of use to a terrorist under 58(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000. The jury found him not guilty of two further counts of the same offence.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This is another example of why the schedule 7 stop power in the Terrorism Act legislation is so important in identifying and prosecuting potential terrorists.

“In this case, analysis of digital devices revealed downloads of some of the most horrific material promoted by extreme right-wing terrorist groups, as well as extremely dangerous material about carrying out attacks and other acts of extreme violence."

He will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 28 November.

Manchester attack declared terrorist incident

Polly Jones — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:08:28 +0000

Thursday's attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue has been declared a terrorist incident.

Two people were killed and three remain in a serious condition after the attack, which took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

One person is in hospital with a stab wound and a second was hit by the car. A third man later presented himself at hospital with an injury that may have been sustained as officers stopped the attacker.

A member of the public called police at 09:31 to report a car being driven at the public and that one person had been stabbed. Firearms officers were deployed to the scene at 09:34.

Plato was declared at 09:37 and NHS trusts activated their major incident plans.

The suspect was shot dead at 09:38. Police believe the person responsible is 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie - a British citizen of Syrian descent.

A suspicious device that the attacker was wearing has been assessed and was deemed not to be viable.

Since the attack, three other people have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. They are two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s.

Security has been increased at synagogues and Jewish sites around the country and those attending are urged to follow instructions from security guards and police officers.

Flags will be flown at half mast on UK government buildings until 20:00 on Friday 3 October 2025.

Members of the public are reminded not to share footage online and not to share information they don't know is true.

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor said: "An attack on our Jewish community, today, on Yom Kippur, is devastating. Communities across the UK who would normally be marking this holy day, are now grieving, and worried about their safety.

“I want to be clear, UK policing is mobilising. And is mobilising fast.

“Police forces are stepping up patrols across the country, at synagogues and Jewish sites and more widely to provide reassurance to all communities who are affected. At Counter Terrorism Policing we are deploying all of our capabilities in response to what has happened, and we have resources from across our network involved."

Police have said that they do not currently have any records that the attacker had any previous Prevent referrals and his motive is not known.

A rabbi and security guards from the synagogue are being praised for their efforts in preventing the attacker from getting inside the building. It has been reported that prayers had already begun when the attack took place, but Rabbi Daniel Walker lead his congregation to safety.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "On behalf of the nation, I want to offer my condolences to the families and victims affected. I want to thank the Greater Manchester Police, the first responders, and those dedicated security specialists. There is no doubt whatsoever that they have prevented an even greater tragedy, and we thank them for their bravery."

He continued: "But to every Jewish person in this country, I also want to say this: I know how much fear you will be holding inside of you. I really do. And so on behalf of our country, I express my solidarity, but also my sadness that you still have to live with these fears. Nobody should have to do that – nobody. And so I promise you that I will do everything in my power to guarantee you the security you deserve, starting with a more visible police presence, protecting your community. I promise you that over the coming days, you will see the other Britain – the Britain of compassion, of decency, of love. And I promise you that this Britain will come together to wrap our arms around your community and show you that Britain is a place where you and your family are safe, secure and belong."

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said: "To the Chief Constable and all of his staff, we cannot thank you enough for being on the scene within minutes. Our firefighters from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and staff from North West Ambulance Service also provided emergency care at the scene. This was an exemplary blue light response."

He continued: "Greater Manchester will never stand aside when one of our communities is attacked.

"We ask everyone to show solidarity to the Jewish community. Already, we have mobilised through our interfaith network messages of support and solidarity to our places of worship.

"We will always stand together here in Greater Manchester and we will never let acts designed to cause hatred and division in our communities succeed.

"Our message to everyone across Greater Manchester is:

"Do not let them succeed. Respond by reaching out, by redoubling efforts to work together and stand together in these difficult times."

London man convicted of terrorism offence

Meghan Shaw — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 11:36:37 +0000

A London man has been convicted of a terrorism offence after traveling to Syria with intent to commit acts of terrorism, following an investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

Isa Giga, 32, previously of Hounslow in west London, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on 23 May 2024 after alighting from a flight from Turkey. He was later convicted, in July, of an offence contrary to section five of the Terrorism Act, 2006, following a two-week trial at the Old Bailey.

Evidence included emails and social media messages from Giga’s family, which proved he had travelled to Syria to “fight for Jihad”. Messages sent form Giga on a social media platform to an undercover officer in June 2016 saw Giga explain that he “never knew about jihad until 2015”

Met counter terrorism police had been notified in 2018 that Giga had travelled to Syria, via Turkey, to fight for the Jaysh Al Fath group, part of an alliance of Islamist armed factions fighting in the Syrian civil war, including an Al-Qaeda affiliated group.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “We have been clear for some time now that anyone returning to the UK suspected of being involved in any terrorist-related overseas will be thoroughly investigated.

We work very closely with other partners and agencies here in the UK and overseas in order to do this and help keep the public safe.

“As this case shows, we will always arrest those who return to the UK after fighting for a terrorist group, no matter how long it has been since they left the country.”

He will be sentenced at the old Bailey on 17th October.

26-year-old sentenced for promoting terrorism online

Meghan Shaw — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 11:15:11 +0000

A 26 year-old man from Cleethorpes has been given a 15-year extended sentence for encouraging terrorism and sharing terrorist material.

Mohammed Mahfuz Ahmed from Humberside was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court in February 2025 of one offence of Encouraging Terrorism, contrary to section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006, and four offences of Disseminating Terrorist Publications, contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Ahmed received an extended sentence, so he will serve ten years in custody and five years on licence. He will be subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order for five years and a Terrorism Notification Order for 30 years when he is released.

An investigation was led by the Counter Terrorism Policing North East in April 2024, that uncovered a deep-seated extremist mindset and a determination to share terrorist material online, which included content promoting violent jihad and official Daesh magazines and propaganda.

Ahmed shared material online that opening encouraged murder and acts of violence, as well as, on one occasion, adding his own commentary to a post identifying new and ‘easy’ targets, demanding his followers to ‘Answer the Call’.

He was careful to avoid the attention of social media moderators, and created new accounts when his current ones were banned. He used five different accounts over a five-month period, gathering more than 1,300 followers and received in excess of 14,000 likes in response to his content.

Detective chief superintendent James Dunkerley, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “Ahmed was persistent and determined in his efforts to reach as many people as possible with his posts, which often included graphic content and glorified acts of terrorism. He went to considerable lengths to seek out and share material that could not easily be found on mainstream online platforms, using hashtags to appeal to a wider audience and encourage more followers.

“The potential impact of his actions should don’t be underestimated. By sharing Daesh propaganda, he has promoted their cause and intentionally extended the reach and influence of their ideology.

“Sharing extremist material online is not a victimless crime and may inspire others to act. We are working tirelessly alongside our partners to remove this content and identifying those who seek to legitimise terrorism in this way. If you come across extreme material online, please help us to limit the harm by reporting it at ww.gov.uk/act.”

Three family members convicted of terrorism offences

Polly Jones — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 10:04:56 +0000

Three members of the same family have been convicted of creating, performing and distributing neo-Nazi music which encouraged terrorism and incited racial hatred.

Robert Talland, 56, and his children Stephen, 36, and Rosie, 34, from Essex were found guilty of multiple charges of stirring up racial hatred. Robert was also found guilty of two offences of encouraging terrorism.

Robert was a leader of the ‘Blood & Honour’ neo-Nazi movement, which organised music festivals and sold merchandise for far right and extreme right wing rock bands. He also worked as a producer for the music label ‘Rampage Productions’ which distributed CDs for white power music bands. His children played for the band ‘Embers of an Empire’ which Robert managed.

All three members of the family were arrested in October 2020, after a year-long investigation by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North East.

During a nine-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court, the court heard how Robert Talland had organised a gig at the Corpus Christi Club in Leeds on September 21, 2019, at which ‘Embers of an Empire’ performed songs which called for racist violence. CCTV footage showed people at the gig making Nazi salutes.

Searching Robert's home, officers found hundreds of CDs from white power bands which he was distributing under his record label, alongside Blood & Honour merchandise and banners covered in neo-Nazi imagery.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “Robert, Stephen and Rosie Talland were part of a network of hatred which had encouraged violence and extreme right wing terrorism across Europe for decades.

“Robert Talland dismissed the group as an ‘old man’s drinking club’, but through the gigs and events they organised, they promoted music which glorified acts of murder to audiences which included young children. In doing so, they encouraged attitudes of hatred, intolerance and violence which have no place in our society.

“The verdicts today come after a lengthy and detailed investigation into the Talland family and their activities. Counter Terrorism Policing is committed to targeting the people who encourage racist violence by bringing them to justice.

19-year-old charged with terrorism offences

Meghan Shaw — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:06:59 +0000

A 19-year-old man from Leicester has appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court today (1st July 2025) charged with terror offences following an investigation by Counter Terror Policing North East, supported by Counter Terrorism Policing East Midlands and Leicestershire Police.

Zayan Lorgat was charged with four counts of disseminated a terrorist publication, contrary to Section 2(1) and Section 2(e) of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Arrested on October 15, 2024 as part of a pre-planned operation that saw property in Leicester searched, he did not plea guilty. He will appear at the Central Criminal Court on Friday 18th July 2025.

Art dealer sentenced for terrorism offence

Polly Jones — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 09:06:36 +0000

An art dealer from London has been sentenced after admitting eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector, contrary to section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Oghenochuko Ojiri was sentenced to two years and six months' imprisonment, after an investigation by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command revealed £140,000 of sales to a suspected financier of the proscribed group Hizballah.

Ojiri was arrested in Wrexham on 18 April 2023, the same day the UK Government announced sanctions against Nazem Ahmad, a wealthy art collector, based in Lebanon, suspected of providing funding to Hizballah.

Officers subsequently obtained a warrant to seize a number of artworks belonging to Ahmad held in two UK-based warehouses. The artwork was seized on 4 May 2023 and the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU) obtained a forfeiture order later the same year.

The artwork, including a Picasso and Andy Warhol paintings, is valued at almost £1 million and is due to be sold with the funds reinvested back into the police, CPS and �鶹�� Office.

The Met’s investigation was assisted by US �鶹��land Security, which is conducting a wider investigation into alleged money laundering by Ahmad using shell companies.

Officers from the NTFIU investigated invoices for sales of art by Ojiri and identified that eight purchases were completed with names inserted on the invoices that were not Ahmad’s – but Ojiri did know that the sale was being conducted for him and on his behalf.

The art market was regulated under Anti-Money Laundering regulations in 2019 - bringing it in line with with other regulated sectors such as banking and solicitors.

People who operate in the art market, like gallery owners, must be registered with the HMRC as an Art Market Participant (AMP), undertake due diligence and report any suspicions of money laundering or terrorist financing.

WhatsApp messages were found on Ojiri’s mobile phone from 31 January 2020, which showed him discussing the new money laundering regulations with a colleague. There was also further evidence on his phone that he was aware of the financial sanctions by the US Treasury against Ahmad due to his suspected involvement in being a high-level financier of Hizballah.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This prosecution, using specific Terrorism Act legislation, is the first of its kind and should act as a warning to all art dealers that we can, and will, pursue those who knowingly do business with people identified as funders of terrorist groups.

“Oghenochuko Ojiri wilfully obscured the fact he knew he was selling artwork to Nazem Ahmad, someone who has been sanctioned by the UK and US Treasury and described as a funder of the proscribed terrorist group Hizballah."

Bethan David, Head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said: “It is clear that Oghenochuko Ojiri was aware of new money laundering regulations in the art world and that he had knowledge of Nazem Ahmad’s background.

“Ojiri engaged in activity designed to conceal the identity of the true purchaser by changing the details on invoices and storing Mr Ahmad’s name under a different alias in his mobile phone.

“His motivation appears to be financial along with a broader desire to boost his gallery’s reputation within the art market by dealing with such a well-known collector.

“This prosecution is believed to be the first of its kind, and the CPS will not hesitate to bring criminal charges against individuals who flout the law in this way.”