Monday, September 17, 2007

Jihadist in Scotland found guilty of "serious terrorism offences"


A 21-year-old student was convicted today of possessing CDs and computer material linked to Islamist terrorism, along with charges including threatening to become a suicide bomber.

Following the verdict, police said Mohammed Atif Siddique, from Alva, Clackmannanshire, near Stirling in central Scotland, had been found guilty of "serious terrorism offences" which posed a genuine threat.

Siddique's lawyer said he would appeal, arguing the student's actions amounted to nothing worse than "what millions of young people do every day - looking for answers on the internet".

"This verdict is a tragedy for justice and for freedom of speech and undermines the values that separate us from the terrorists, the very values we should be fighting to protect," Aamer Anwar said outside Glasgow high court.

The jury returned guilty verdicts on four charges, including one of possessing CDs and videos that could be used for terrorist purposes.

Siddique was also convicted on two charges of setting up websites with links to terrorist publications that showed how to use weapons and make bombs, and causing a breach of the peace at Glasgow Metropolitan College by threatening to become a suicide bomber and blow up Glasgow. He will be sentenced on October 23.

A computer disc found hidden under a carpet in the accused's family home contained images including Islamic extremists looting the body of a dead US serviceman.

Siddique's laptop had an al-Qaeda recruiting video urging young Muslim men to become suicide bombers.

He also set up a website that had links on how to be a home-grown terrorist, including bomb making advice and how to strip weapons.

During the four-week trial, prosecutor Brian McConnachie labelled Siddique a "wannabe suicide bomber", who helped distribute material that amounted to "a call to arms for Muslims".

"It's clear from that material that the whole idea was to glorify martyrdom operations, which we call suicide bombings," Mr McConnachie said.

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