A man has been found guilty of terrorism-related offences after he was discovered collecting manuals on 3D printing firearms. Abdiwahid Abdulkadir Mohamed, aged 32 and residing in Neasden, northwest London, was revealed to be associated with various extreme Islamist groups following an investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. The inquiry was initiated when Mohamed was stopped and questioned by officers at Heathrow in September 2022 upon his return to the UK from a trip to Kenya.
During the interrogation at Heathrow, Mohamed was questioned under ‘schedule 7’ powers, and his digital devices were examined by the authorities. Through analysis of his devices, it was revealed that Mohamed was using two specific Telegram accounts and was a member of multiple extreme Islamist groups on the platform. Furthermore, officials uncovered several documents believed to contain instructions on creating and assembling 3D-printed firearms. Mohamed had established a private channel accessible only by his account to send and store these documents without saving them on his personal devices.
Upon his arrest at his residence in January 2023, additional evidence on Mohamed’s phone reinforced his extremist inclinations, including a search for 3D printers on eBay. On 18 January 2023, Mohamed was charged with six counts of possessing documents likely to be utilised for committing or preparing acts of terrorism. Subsequently, following a trial at Kingston Crown Court, he was found guilty on 8 October of all six charges. Mohamed is scheduled to be sentenced at the same court on 3 December.
Acting Commander Gareth Rees from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command commented, “Mohamed was using a social media app to send himself and store instructions on how to make 3D-printed weapons. The circulation of these kind of documents online is extremely harmful, and anyone storing or sharing this type of content can expect to be investigated and prosecuted, as Mohamed was here.” Rees highlighted the crucial role of ‘schedule 7’ powers in identifying and probing potential terrorist activities to ensure public safety.
The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to prevent individuals from engaging in terrorist-related activities and highlights the significance of stringent measures in combatting extremism. The conviction underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies to safeguard communities from terrorism threats and underscores the need for continued vigilance in addressing such security challenges.