Man who tried to buy grenades on dark web has links to Luton

Mohammed Humza, 29, of Fuller Road, Watford, didn’t appear throughout his seven-day trial in October, in which he was found guilty of trying to purchase two grenades from an international seller in July 2016.

In his absence, he was today (Friday) jailed for five years while officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) seek to track him down.

Humza is described as 5’8”, Asian and of medium build.

In addition to Watford, he is known to have links to Birmingham, Luton and Rochdale.

Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Davidson, head of investigations at ERSOU, said: “The sentence given to Humza is a clear indication of the severity of his actions, and our enquiries to locate him are ongoing.

"We are seeking the public’s help in ensuring he is brought to face the justice he deserves.

“It’s important to note that the offence took place some time ago and he didn’t receive the items that he was trying to buy, however I would still urge the public not to approach Humza and instead contact police or Crimestoppers immediately.“

The investigation found that Humza used Bitcoin to pay for the grenades on the dark web, listing another address for delivery in an attempt to avoid detection.

Although the purchase wasn’t completed, Humza continued to contact the seller and enquired about the availability of more grenades and explosive materials, along with a detonator fuse.

Officers from ERSOU arrested Humza at his Watford home in November 2016.

After searching his address, a number of his electrical devices were seized and examined by investigators. They were found to contain evidence of Humza’s intent to purchase the items, including searches for ‘F1 Grenade’ and login details for his dark web account.

He had been bailed prior to the trial but then evaded police and failed to turn up in court.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call their local police force on 101 immediately, quoting Operation Footprint, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.