Inmate jailed again over extremist files and prison phones
Muhammad Zakir Arif, 20, from Bury, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on July 24, 2026, to three years in prison, plus an additional year on licence and a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order. He pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing material useful to a terrorist under the Terrorism Act 2000 and three counts of prison security offences under the Prisons Act 1952. Arif was originally jailed in September 2024 for assaulting a police officer, possessing knives, and refusing to provide phone PINs. While serving that sentence, detectives accessed his phone data and found extremist videos encouraging attacks. During a prison inspection, two hidden mobile phones were discovered, one of which had been used to contact associates outside. The judge noted Arif showed no desire to rehabilitate. Counter Terrorism Policing stated his refusal to cooperate only led to more prison time.
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