A 23-year-old man living in Birmingham has been sentenced to six years in prison after admitting membership of the Islamic State, following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands, the UK Defence Journal understands.
Musa Abdrabba, of Newport Road, Balsall Heath, pleaded guilty in September to two charges of belonging to a proscribed organisation. He was sentenced on 11 May. Detectives had arrested Abdrabba in Percy Road, Sparkhill in October 2023, seizing three mobile phones that were found to contain terrorism material including extremely violent videos and bomb-making instructions.
Between January and October 2023, Abdrabba used an online alias to provide a media service for ISIS and its supporters.
His activity included translating social media posts, creating and amplifying content, and advising other supporters on how to avoid detection by authorities online. He had pledged allegiance to ISIS in August 2023.
Detective Chief Superintendent Alison Hurst, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands, said Abdrabba had committed fully to his self-appointed role after that pledge.
“After Abdrabba pledged his allegiance to ISIS in August 2023, he was fully committed to the role of media facilitator to ensure their propaganda was widely shared and updated. He took it upon himself to provide a service to a proscribed organisation and posted extremist material glorifying ISIS, he had no regard for the corrosive impact or the radicalising effect that the material could have on others in our communities.”
