Yusuf Shah, an 18-year-old from Ilford, east London, has been found guilty of offering technical support to terrorist groups, including cybersecurity advice and methods to avoid detection when making cryptocurrency payments. He was stopped under the Terrorism Act at Heathrow Airport at age 16 in January 2024.
Background and Radicalisation
Shah began discussing religion on social media at age 13 in 2021. By late 2022, he started expressing support for activities by Al Qaida and Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP). His online activity escalated to providing practical technical assistance.
Technical Support Provided
Shah offered cybersecurity guidance and ways to make anonymous cryptocurrency payments. In March 2024, he was asked on Telegram to produce a cybersecurity guide for TTP by an individual claiming a senior official requested it. Shah quickly created a document titled "A Guide on Cybersecurity," providing detailed instructions on cybersecurity and cryptocurrency use. He sent it to the individual to help TTP conduct terrorist activities in secret.
In April 2024, a donation of $1,376.51 (£1,028.60) was made to Al Qaida using security methods Shah advised, the only donation via that QR code. Shah also participated in Telegram chat groups supporting terrorist groups, offering his technical knowledge and violent ideology.
Evidence and Conviction
After his stop at Heathrow, officers seized his phone, computer, and USB drives. Analysis showed he accessed an Al Qaida online magazine with practical terrorism instructions, downloaded documents on making explosives and using weapons. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, stated: "Our investigation showed that Shah was being drawn into extremist and terrorist material and ideologies when he was only 13 or 14 years old. This is reflective of a growing trend and concern over children and young people being radicalised and accessing extremely dangerous and violent terrorist ideologies and material online."
After a five-week trial at Kingston Crown Court, Shah was convicted of one count of making money available to terrorism, one count of providing instruction or training for terrorism, and three counts of collecting terrorist materials. He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on September 16.
