UK man jailed for 2.5 years after explosives guides found on phone

A man from Luton has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after Counter Terrorism Policing found extremist material on his digital devices, including guides on how to make explosives.

Sentencing and Charges

Abdullah bin Yassir, 23, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court on Friday 3 July. Detectives discovered several documents in his possession containing instructions on manufacturing explosives, alongside other content linked to Islamist terrorism.

Yassir was charged with three counts of collecting information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, between 1 January and 7 June 2025, under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Investigation Details

Yassir was arrested in July 2025 as part of an investigation led by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU). A search warrant was executed at his home in Elmwood Crescent, Luton, where detectives seized several digital devices.

Forensic examination of a phone revealed detailed documents setting out how to prepare explosive substances, including information on:

• Ingredients
• Safety measures
• Methods to avoid detection

Further evidence retrieved from other devices illustrated an extremist mindset, including a video describing different methods for carrying out attacks and the use of vehicles, knives and firearms. The investigation also recovered messages in which Yassir expressed support for violence and justified previous terrorist attacks.

Court Remarks

His Honour Judge Anthony Leonard, addressing Yassir at sentencing, stated:

"You had more than a passing interest in Islamic extremism. It is not possible to look at your offending as an isolated event due to the material found on your electronic devices. The offence is so serious that only custodial sentence is justified."

Police Statement

Assistant Chief Officer Hannah Wilkinson was quoted in the press release as saying:

"This case highlights the serious risk posed by individuals who actively seek out and retain extremist material online. Through this investigation, officers recovered content that went beyond ideology, including detailed and practical instructions that could be used to carry out acts of serious harm."

She added:

"ERSOU's Counter Terrorism Policing teams work closely with partners across the region and nationally to identify, investigate and disrupt this type of activity at an early stage. We would continue to urge the public to trust their instincts and report any concerns, as information from our communities remains a vital part of keeping our region safe."

Background

The Eastern Region Special Operations Unit is the counter terrorism policing body covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, working alongside regional forces and the national counter terrorism network.

Section 58 offences, which cover the collection or possession of information likely to be useful to a person preparing an act of terrorism, have featured in a growing share of counter terrorism prosecutions in recent years, reflecting the volume of instructional material circulating online.

Image: The Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey by Bill Henderson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons