Five years in jail for Luton men convicted of stirring up support for ISIS

Last Friday Ibrahim Anderson, 38, of Dallow Road, and Shah Jahan Khan, 62, of St Catherine’s Avenue, were convicted for inviting support for ISIS outside Topshop on Oxford Street, London, in August 2014.

Anderson, who was also found guilty of possessing information “likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”, has been sentenced to three years in jail.

Khan has been jailed for two years.

Last week the Old Bailey heard that the pair were part of a group of men that erected a stall in Oxford Street, close to Marble Arch tube station.

During the course of an afternoon they assisted in distributing leaflets to people which encouraged support for the Caliphate announced by ISIS.

They were heard to make comments supporting ISIS.

When two witnesses, appalled by their comments, challenged their point of view they were told to “go and die”.

The witnesses took pictures of the two convicted men and later reported the matter to police.

Both were arrested on December 16 2014 and their homes were searched.

When searching Anderson’s address, police seized a computer.

When the computer was examined three images were recovered which were part of a set of instructions for travel to Syria to support jihad.

Commander Dean Haydon, of SO15, said: “These men were openly supporting a terrorist organisation whose behaviour is abhorrent to the majority of people across the world.

“Their actions on a busy London street were challenged by members of the public, appalled by what they observed. The MPS Counter Terrorism Command rightly investigated this case and would encourage others to come forward if they have concerns about terrorist related activity.”

Detective chief inspector Glen Channer, from the Eastern Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit, added: “Bedfordshire Police and the Eastern Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit has worked closely with the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command on the investigation into these individuals and we are pleased they have been brought to justice.

“We are committed to tackling terrorism and work hard with partners including Luton Borough Council to engage with our communities to identify, protect and support the small minority who may be drawn into terrorism, through various intervention projects.

“We have launched the Let’s Talk About It campaign which aims to educate people including teachers and healthcare professionals on how to spot the signs that someone is at risk of radicalisation, and signpost them to how they can get help or report concerns.

“Luton is a vibrant town and we are committed to working with our communities to crackdown on any small minority with extreme views who seek to radicalise vulnerable people in our society.”