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 for collecting extremist material and using two hidden mobile phones while already serving time for assaulting a police officer. 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. The judge imposed an additional year on licence and a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order. Arif was originally jailed in September 2024 for knife possession, assaulting a police officer, and refusing to provide phone PINs. While in prison, detectives accessed his phone data, finding extremist videos encouraging attacks. Two hidden phones were discovered in his cell, one used to contact associates outside prison. Counter Terrorism Policing stated his refusal to cooperate only led to more prison time.