Mohammed Afzal Jailed for Spreading Terrorist Material Online
Preston man Mohammed Afzal sentenced to nearly four years in prison after a Counter Terrorism investigation by Policing North West (CTPNW), backed by Lancashire Constabulary.
Guilty Pleas to Terror Offences
Afzal pleaded guilty on 13 February 2023 to eight terror-related offences. These included four counts for disseminating terrorist publications under the Terrorism Act 2006, and four counts of collecting terrorist information under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The probe into Afzal’s internet activities uncovered extremist posts on social media, prompting police action.
How Police Cracked the Case
- Afzal was first arrested on 29 June 2022 for encouraging terrorism.
- Officers seized electronic devices from his home but he refused to unlock them initially.
- After forensic analysis, authorities retrieved bomb-making instructions and extremist documents from his phone.
- They linked multiple social media accounts to him, all loaded with terror-related content.
- Afzal was re-arrested on 5 October 2022 but declined to answer questions.
- The Crown Prosecution Service pressed formal charges leading to his court appearance.
Police Warn Public to Stay Vigilant
“CTPNW is working tirelessly to ensure that people like Afzal are identified, arrested, and brought before the courts,” said Detective Superintendent Andy Meeks.
“We will not accept any action that attempts to divide our communities and will hold to account anyone who seeks to incite hatred.”
“The public are key to helping us achieve this and I encourage anyone aware of extremist content online to report it promptly.”
You can report suspicious material confidentially at gov.uk/ACT.
