A teenager who provided cybersecurity to a terrorist group has been jailed.
Yusuf Shah also collected terrorist documents, including instructions on how to make explosives and how to use different weapons.
The teenager was 16 years old when he was stopped at Heathrow under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act in January 2024.
On his phone and computer, detectives found Shah had been active on social media and expressed his support for the activities of terrorist groups such as Al Qaida and Tehrik-e-Taliban.
The teen also offered technical knowledge to the terrorist groups, including advice on cyber security and how to avoid detection when making cryptocurrency payments.
At the end of March 2024, Shah was approached on the Telegram app by an individual to help to produce a guide to cybersecurity for the terrorist group Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP). This individual said that a senior official within TTP had asked him for this.
Shah produced a document titled “A Guide on Cybersecurity” that provided detailed information and instruction on cybersecurity and the use of cryptocurrency. He sent it to the individual and provided it to the terrorist group.
Shah was convicted of one count of entering into or becoming concerned in an arrangement as a result of which money or other property is made available or is to be made available to another, contrary to section 17 of the Terrorism Act 2000; one count of providing instruction or training and at the time knew that a person receiving it intended to use the training in connection with the commission of preparation of acts of terrorism or for assisting the commission or preparation of acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 6(1)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2000 and three counts of collecting terrorist materials, contrary to section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London said: “This case should act as another warning to parents and carers to be aware of what their children are doing online.
"Our investigation showed that Shah was being drawn into extremist and terrorist material and ideologies when he was only 13 or 14 years old. This is reflective of a growing trend of young people being radicalised and accessing extremely dangerous and violent terrorist ideologies and material online.
“Even at the age of just 16, Shah had enough knowledge of the online world to be able to provide practical advice to terrorist groups on how to make anonymous cryptocurrency payments.
“It is vital that parents and carers are aware of what children are doing on the internet, especially if they are accessing social media platforms. I would implore you to have conversations, to be inquisitive about what your children are doing online, and if you have any concerns, then there is help available to you via the ACT Early website."
He has now been sentenced to four years and two months' in custody and will be subject to a 10-year notification order.
