Law student jailed for internet terrorism

Law student jailed for internet terrorism

By Shenai Raif

Saturday, 26 February 2011

A law student who posted Islamic terrorist propaganda on the internet after becoming radicalised was jailed for five years yesterday.

Mohammed Gul was "pouring petrol on the fire" and his actions could have spurred others to commit acts of terror, the Old Bailey heard.

Gul, 23, of Hornchurch, Essex, who has since graduated, was found guilty of five counts of disseminating terrorist publications following a retrial at the Old Bailey.

Judge David Paget said his sentence had to be a deterrent to others and reflect the seriousness of the crime.

He told Gul: "I am in no doubt that you have become thoroughly radicalised. One can only express sympathy to your family that this has happened.

"You are an intelligent young man who had a good law degree from a good university. It is a tragedy that you have thrown it all away."

The judge praised the anti-terrorist police who, he said, "had a Herculean task" in reviewing the huge amount of material found on Gul's laptop.

It had involved the biggest review of data ever undertaken by the anti-terrorist branch of Scotland Yard and involved 30 officers over a period of six months, he said.

Comment: I find the whole idea of posting material on the internet a crime quite appalling, and think that there are genuine crimes which would have benifitted from 30 officers for 6 months!