Proactive investigation leads to man’s third terror-related conviction

A man with two previous terror-related convictions has been jailed for posting extremist content online, as a result of a proactive Met investigation.

In July 2022, Shafi Saleem, 34 (03.03.89), of east London, posted Daesh propaganda footage on one of his private social media feeds of a series of suicide bombings.

Officers were able to obtain proof of this post and following further investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, Saleem was arrested on 14 February 2023 at Heathrow Airport as he landed back in the UK on a flight from Pakistan. He was charged the following day.

Terrorist content can be reported online and anonymously via gov.uk/report-terrorism.

Detective Chief Superintendent Hayley Sewart, of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Extremist content online can cause serious harm in communities, particularly to young and other vulnerable people, and it is often intended to radicalise and recruit people to terrorist causes. That is why we work hard to identify people who post this kind of material, and to get it removed from websites.

“Terrorism offenders always have conditions imposed upon them when they are released from prison into communities, to minimise the risk of reoffending and to protect the public.

“The fact that this is the second time Saleem has been found to breach these conditions shows how strictly police enforce them.”

Saleem was found guilty of dissemination of a terrorist publication (under Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006) on Tuesday, 20 February, following a trial at the Old Bailey.

Saleem previously pleaded guilty to breach of a part 4 notification requirement under the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 (relating to his being in possession of an additional/unregistered SIM card), and using threatening words to cause alarm (section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986), which relates to his behaviour towards officers when he was arrested.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

Saleem was previously jailed in February 2018 for two years for encouragement of terrorism after posting images and messages promoting Daesh on social media. He was released from prison in February 2019, and was on probation licence and subject to a 10-year Part 4 Notification Order.

In December 2020, Saleem was jailed for 10 months for breaching this Part 4 Order.

Communities defeat terrorism, and information from the public is vital to counter terrorism investigations. If you see or hear something unusual or suspicious and think someone may be engaging in terrorist activity, trust your instincts and act by reporting it in confidence at gov.uk/act or the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321. In an emergency, dial 999.

Visit the ACT Early website to find out how you can seek help and support for anyone who you suspect may be being radicalised.