Crime Solicitors

A judge has delayed sentencing in the case of a 15-year-old boy from Blackburn convicted on terrorism charges, so that a report on the circumstances of the boy’s radicalisation can be prepared.

BBC News reports that the teenager – who cannot be named for legal reasons – used social media to incite acts of terrorism while communicating with an 18-year-old man in Melbourne.

The 15-year-old tried to persuade the man to murder police officers at the annual Anzac Day Remembrance Parade in Melbourne on 25 April. No offence took place, but the teenager – who was 14 at the time – also suggested the man should break into someone’s house and get experience of beheading.

At Manchester Crown Court, the boy spoke via video link to the Old Bailey in London.

The court heard that he and 18-year-old Sevdet Besim from Melbourne in Australia had communicated with each other during a ten-day period in March. Both were supporters of Islamic State, also known as IS or ISIS.

Police officers arrested the 15-year-old on 2 April in connection with an alleged plan to attack the parade in Melbourne.

He was detained again after police officers examined electronic media and uncovered his communications with the man in Australia, who had told him his proposals seemed “a little risky”. Communications between the two then appeared to ”tail off”, the court heard.

The prosecution told the Old Bailey:
“Those messages reveal the intentions of the plotters and their targets – along with their motivation which may be summarised as support for Isis and their enthusiasm for the attack.
“The messages also set out the plotters' preparations for the attack. On 18 March 2015 – as part of those preparations – the defendant sent Sevdet Besim a message that read, 'suggest you break into someone's house and get your first taste of beheading'.
“Sevdet Besim responded to say that this seemed 'a little risky' and that aspect of the preparations appears then to have drifted away.”

A second charge of inciting terrorism overseas in relation to beheading a person in Australia was dropped by the CPS.

The 15-year-old is the youngest person in the UK to face terrorism charges.

He pleaded guilty to one count of inciting terrorism by encouraging the murder of police officers during the event in Melbourne in April.

He is being held in a youth detention centre and will be sentenced in Manchester on 3 September.

Duncan Lewis Terrorism Solicitors

Duncan Lewis can advise at any stage of a charge involving terrorism charges, including supporting a proscribed organisation, inciting acts of terrorism, preparing for acts of terrorism, cyber terrorism, funding terrorism, or carrying out acts of terrorism.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on arrest or immigration matters relating to re-entry to the UK from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and our criminal defence solicitors regularly visit police stations, courts and prisons to advise on criminal law and terrorism offences.

For expert legal advice on terrorism-related allegations and charges, call Duncan Lewis Crime solicitors on 020 7923 4020.