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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man jailed for terrorism offences | Man jailed for terrorism offences |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A man convicted of three terrorism offences has been sentenced to eight years in prison. | A man convicted of three terrorism offences has been sentenced to eight years in prison. |
| Mohammed Atif Siddique, 21, from Alva, in Clackmannanshire, appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh. | Mohammed Atif Siddique, 21, from Alva, in Clackmannanshire, appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh. |
| At his trial, jury members were told the young Muslim was a "wannabe suicide bomber" who had been apprehended by police targeting extreme Islamists. | At his trial, jury members were told the young Muslim was a "wannabe suicide bomber" who had been apprehended by police targeting extreme Islamists. |
| Siddique was convicted of possessing terrorism-related items including videos of weapons use and bomb-making. | Siddique was convicted of possessing terrorism-related items including videos of weapons use and bomb-making. |
| Delivering sentence, judge Lord Carloway told Siddique: "You told fellow college students that you intended to become a terrorist and one of your targets would be central Glasgow." | Delivering sentence, judge Lord Carloway told Siddique: "You told fellow college students that you intended to become a terrorist and one of your targets would be central Glasgow." |
| The student was found guilty of collecting terrorist-related information, setting up websites showing how to make and use weapons and explosives, and circulating inflammatory terrorist publications. | The student was found guilty of collecting terrorist-related information, setting up websites showing how to make and use weapons and explosives, and circulating inflammatory terrorist publications. |
| SENTENCING STATEMENT Read the judge's comments [28KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | SENTENCING STATEMENT Read the judge's comments [28KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| A further charge of breach of the peace related to claims that he showed students at Glasgow Metropolitan College images of suicide bombers and terrorist beheadings. | A further charge of breach of the peace related to claims that he showed students at Glasgow Metropolitan College images of suicide bombers and terrorist beheadings. |
| The offences were alleged to have been carried out between 1 March 2003 and 13 April last year. | The offences were alleged to have been carried out between 1 March 2003 and 13 April last year. |
| Siddique had been under covert surveillance by the security services for several months when he was detained at Glasgow Airport as he was about to board a flight to Lahore in Pakistan with his uncle. | Siddique had been under covert surveillance by the security services for several months when he was detained at Glasgow Airport as he was about to board a flight to Lahore in Pakistan with his uncle. |
| Lord Carloway said that the items found in his possession indicated he had close links with those who promoted al Qaeda. | Lord Carloway said that the items found in his possession indicated he had close links with those who promoted al Qaeda. |
| 'Challenging inquiry' | 'Challenging inquiry' |
| He added: "The jury were well entitled to the view on the evidence that you were planning to play some part in an act of terrorism, perhaps as a suicide bomber, and that you had the material in your possession for that purpose, either for your own encouragement and assistance or to encourage or assist others." | He added: "The jury were well entitled to the view on the evidence that you were planning to play some part in an act of terrorism, perhaps as a suicide bomber, and that you had the material in your possession for that purpose, either for your own encouragement and assistance or to encourage or assist others." |
| The judge acknowledged that despite his crimes, Siddique had been in custody for more than a year before being brought to trial. | The judge acknowledged that despite his crimes, Siddique had been in custody for more than a year before being brought to trial. |
| He said: "I note that the delay appears to have been caused by repeated applications by the defence for continuations to allow further defence preparation. | He said: "I note that the delay appears to have been caused by repeated applications by the defence for continuations to allow further defence preparation. |
| "Nevertheless, this court does not regard this period as acceptable in a modern judicial system." | "Nevertheless, this court does not regard this period as acceptable in a modern judicial system." |
| Lord Carloway sentenced Siddique at the High Court in Edinburgh | Lord Carloway sentenced Siddique at the High Court in Edinburgh |
| Siddique's eight-year sentence will be back-dated to 13 April 2006 when he was arrested. | Siddique's eight-year sentence will be back-dated to 13 April 2006 when he was arrested. |
| After the sentencing, Siddique's older brother, Asif, said: "Today Atif Siddique has been sentenced under controversial and vague terror legislation for looking for answers on the internet. | After the sentencing, Siddique's older brother, Asif, said: "Today Atif Siddique has been sentenced under controversial and vague terror legislation for looking for answers on the internet. |
| "This is not a case regarding one individual, it's a show case, an example being made to show other Muslims, and to show the muscle of the legal system to an innocent but stupid young man. | "This is not a case regarding one individual, it's a show case, an example being made to show other Muslims, and to show the muscle of the legal system to an innocent but stupid young man. |
| "Atif is no terrorist, no threat to no-one. He is innocent of the charges and did not receive a fair trial." | "Atif is no terrorist, no threat to no-one. He is innocent of the charges and did not receive a fair trial." |
| He said his brother had been a victim of a miscarriage of justice. | He said his brother had been a victim of a miscarriage of justice. |
| Solicitor Aamer Anwar confirmed an appeal would be lodged against the conviction. | Solicitor Aamer Anwar confirmed an appeal would be lodged against the conviction. |
| He said: "We've met with Atif Siddique and he wishes me to say as his solicitor that he maintains he's innocent and we will be marking an appeal on his behalf." | He said: "We've met with Atif Siddique and he wishes me to say as his solicitor that he maintains he's innocent and we will be marking an appeal on his behalf." |
| The investigation into Siddique's crimes was led by Central Scotland Police. | |
| Distinct messages | |
| Assistant Chief Constable Maureen Brown said the force would not comment directly on the sentence handed down. | |
| She said: "Mohammed Atif Siddique was found guilty by a jury of serious criminal charges which were the result of what was a complex and challenging inquiry for Central Scotland Police. | |
| Osama Saeed of the Muslim Council of Scotland said the sentence could send out two distinct messages to those who may have been radicalised. | |
| He said: "The first is of deterrence, and the hope that if there is anyone in a similar position to Siddique, they will now be put off this ideology. | |
| "The second is more troubling. | |
| "If there are more in Siddique's position, where they are flirting or dabbling with extremist ideas, there could be a hesitation on their part, or of those that know them, to seek help and advice in returning to the mainstream lest some material be found on their laptops. | |
| "The thing that people in the early stages of extremism need is an intellectual detox, and it is vital that arguments can be dealt with out in the open rather than pushing them even deeper underground." |