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| 'Lyrical Terrorist' found guilty | 'Lyrical Terrorist' found guilty |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A 23-year-old who called herself the "Lyrical Terrorist" has become the first woman in the UK to be convicted under the Terrorism Act. | A 23-year-old who called herself the "Lyrical Terrorist" has become the first woman in the UK to be convicted under the Terrorism Act. |
| Samina Malik from Southall, west London, has been found guilty at the Old Bailey of owning terrorist manuals. | Samina Malik from Southall, west London, has been found guilty at the Old Bailey of owning terrorist manuals. |
| The jury heard Malik had written extremist poems praising Osama Bin Laden, supporting martyrdom and discussing beheading. | The jury heard Malik had written extremist poems praising Osama Bin Laden, supporting martyrdom and discussing beheading. |
| Malik worked at WH Smith at Heathrow Airport until her arrest last October. | Malik worked at WH Smith at Heathrow Airport until her arrest last October. |
| She had earlier been found not guilty of the more serious charge, under Section 57 of the Act, of possessing an article for a terrorist purpose. She denied the charges. | She had earlier been found not guilty of the more serious charge, under Section 57 of the Act, of possessing an article for a terrorist purpose. She denied the charges. |
| Extremist 'library' | Extremist 'library' |
| Malik burst into tears in the dock when the verdict was read out. | Malik burst into tears in the dock when the verdict was read out. |
| These communications strongly indicate Samina Malik was deeply involved with terrorist related groups Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting Malik 'led double life' class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7085889.stm">The 'enigma' in the dock | |
| Following the verdict, Judge Peter Beaumont QC, the Recorder of London, told Malik: "You have been in many respects a complete enigma to me." | Following the verdict, Judge Peter Beaumont QC, the Recorder of London, told Malik: "You have been in many respects a complete enigma to me." |
| She had posted her poems on websites under the screen name the Lyrical Terrorist, prosecutors said. | She had posted her poems on websites under the screen name the Lyrical Terrorist, prosecutors said. |
| Malik said the poems were "meaningless", but prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said: "These communications strongly indicate Samina Malik was deeply involved with terrorist related groups." | Malik said the poems were "meaningless", but prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said: "These communications strongly indicate Samina Malik was deeply involved with terrorist related groups." |
| Police said they had found a "library" of extreme Islamist literature in her bedroom including The Al-Qaeda Manual and The Mujahideen Poisons Handbook. | Police said they had found a "library" of extreme Islamist literature in her bedroom including The Al-Qaeda Manual and The Mujahideen Poisons Handbook. |
| The cover of a weapons manual found in Samina Malik's bedroom | The cover of a weapons manual found in Samina Malik's bedroom |
| The court also heard she had written on the back of a WH Smith till receipt: "The desire within me increases every day to go for martyrdom." | The court also heard she had written on the back of a WH Smith till receipt: "The desire within me increases every day to go for martyrdom." |
| Malik said she had only called herself the Lyrical Terrorist "because it sounded cool". | Malik said she had only called herself the Lyrical Terrorist "because it sounded cool". |
| She was convicted of having articles "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism". | She was convicted of having articles "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism". |
| Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: "Malik held violent extremist views which she shared with other like-minded people over the internet. She also tried to donate money to a terrorist group. | Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: "Malik held violent extremist views which she shared with other like-minded people over the internet. She also tried to donate money to a terrorist group. |
| "She had the ideology, ability and determination to access and download material, which could have been useful to terrorists. Merely possessing this material is a serious criminal offence." | "She had the ideology, ability and determination to access and download material, which could have been useful to terrorists. Merely possessing this material is a serious criminal offence." |
| Malik was bailed under what the judge described as "house arrest" until her sentencing on 6 December. | Malik was bailed under what the judge described as "house arrest" until her sentencing on 6 December. |
| He warned her that "all sentencing options" remained open to him. | He warned her that "all sentencing options" remained open to him. |