Man who posted support on social media for terrorist groups jailed

A man who posted supportive messages on social media about proscribed terrorist groups as well as antisemitic posts has been jailed.

Zakir Hussain, 30 (09.01.95) of Harlow, was arrested in March last year after officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command linked him to an X account posting statements in support of Hamas and Hizballah.

Writing on account ‘@lewiswarren911”, Hussain posted a series of messages on X between November 2023 and January 2024 that celebrated the October 7 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. He also wrote numerous antisemitic comments, including praise for the actions of Adolf Hitler.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This investigation started as the result of an anonymous report by a member of the public appalled by the content of Hussain’s X account.

“Our Counter-Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) assessed the content of the posts as being in breach of terrorism legislation and a proactive investigation was launched.

“This case demonstrates, yet again, that we will act when we receive information about social media content that is unlawful. When this happens those responsible can expect to be investigated and prosecuted where the evidence allows.”

At the time of his arrest, Hussain was already serving a suspended sentence for a conviction of malicious communications offences committed in 2021 and 2022. This involved him sending threatening and abusive posts on X to the sister of a man who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Hussain was charged on 27 March last year with four counts of supporting a proscribed organization, contrary to section 12 (1A) of the Terrorism Act 2000 and seven counts of publishing threatening, abusive or insulting material, contrary to section 19 of the Public Order Act.

Hussain pleaded guilty to all the charges on the first day of his trial at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 20 March. He was sentenced at the same court on 26 June to five years and eight months' imprisonment, plus another three years on extended licence.

He has been remanded in custody for the past year.

Anyone wanting to report something to Counter Terrorism Policing can visit www.act.campaign.gov.uk