A man from southwest London has been sentenced to over six years in prison for sharing terrorist content online, following a proactive investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, according to a press release.
Ayoub Nacir, 21, was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on 24 September to six years and nine months’ imprisonment.
The investigation revealed that during 2022 and 2023, Nacir had posted terrorist material on multiple social media platforms, including content promoting the extremist group Daesh.
In addition to disseminating this material, authorities discovered that Nacir possessed documents containing instructions on creating harmful substances, as well as guides that could be used to plan or carry out terrorist acts.
Nacir was arrested in October 2023 after officers seized and examined his electronic devices, which provided key evidence of his involvement in distributing terrorist-related content.
The investigation led to him being charged with ten counts related to the dissemination of terrorist publications and possession of documents for terrorist purposes. Nacir pleaded guilty to eight of the charges, with two counts of dissemination of terrorist publications set to remain on file.
The case has highlighted the growing threat of online terrorist material and its potential impact.
Acting Commander Gareth Rees of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command stated in the press release: “We’re aware of the significant impact that spreading online terrorist material can have on vulnerable individuals who may be at risk of being drawn into terrorism. The work that went into this investigation shows how seriously we take online terrorism, and we will continue to identify those individuals who spread this material online.”
The public is encouraged to report any online material promoting terrorism or extremism through anonymous channels, such as the government’s online reporting tool.
