A teenager has been found guilty of terrorism offences after collecting terrorist documents and offering cyber security advice to a terrorist group.
Yusuf Shah, 18, was convicted at Kingston Crown Court following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London.
Mr Shah was just 16 years old when he first came to the attention of the authorities, and was stopped at Heathrow Airport under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act in January 2024.
His mobile phone was seized, and a search at his home address in April 2024 led to the seizure and analysis of a computer and USB storage devices.
Read More
Evidence collected showed that Mr Shah, from Ilford, had been active on social media since 2021 when he was just 13 years old.
By the end of 2022, he was expressing his support for the activities of terrorist groups such as Al Qaida, and offering technical support to help them operate covertly online when making cryptocurrency payments.
Officers found data on Mr Shah’s phone showing he had accessed an online magazine published by Al Qaida that contained instructions on carrying out acts of terrorism, including the manufacture of explosives and the use of various weapons.
He also engaged in chat groups on the messaging app Telegram that supported terrorist groups, where he offered his services to those who shared his extremist views.
A donation of $1,376.51 was made using security methods he had shared in one group regarding using specific untraceable cryptocurrency to donate to Al Qaida.
In March 2024, Mr Shah was approached on the Telegram app by an individual to help to create a cyber security guide for terrorist group Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP).
Mr Shah produced a document that he titled “A Guide on Cybersecurity” that provided detailed information and instruction on cybersecurity and the use of cryptocurrency to help the group conduct activities in secret.
Following a five-week trial, Mr Shah was convicted of numerous terror-related offences, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000.
These include one count of entering into an arrangement to make funds available for terrorism, one count of providing instruction intended for use in terrorist activities, and three counts of collecting terrorist materials.
He has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on September 16.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London said: “Our investigation showed that Shah was being drawn into extremist and terrorist material and ideologies when he was only 13 or 14 years old.
“This is reflective of a growing trend and concern over children and young people being radicalised and accessing extremely dangerous and violent terrorist ideologies and material online.
“Even at the age of just 16, Shah had enough knowledge of the online world to be able to provide practical advice to terrorist groups on how to make anonymous cryptocurrency payments.
“It is vital that parents and carers are aware of what children are doing on the internet, especially if they are accessing social media platforms.
“I would implore you to have conversations, to be inquisitive about what your children are doing online, and if you have any concerns, then there is help available to you via the ACT Early website.”
The public has been encouraged to seek information and advice on the signs of radicalisation, and to contact police with any concerns about somebody at www.actearly.uk.