Adam Mahmood, a 20-year-old former student from Sheldon, Birmingham, has been sentenced to four years in a young offender institution after being convicted of possessing a bomb-making video. The video detailed how to construct an explosive device similar to those used in previous UK terrorist attacks.
Mahmood, who gained over 27,000 followers on TikTok, requested the instructional video through a messaging app from another user. Following a week-long trial at Birmingham Crown Court in September, he was found guilty of a single count of possessing material likely useful to someone preparing an act of terrorism.
Judge Simon Drew KC sentenced Mahmood on January 15, ordering him to serve four years in custody followed by a three-year extended licence period aimed at protecting the public. During sentencing, the judge highlighted the presence of medieval weapons discovered in Mahmood’s bedroom, including swords, knives, an axe, and a catapult, which Mahmood claimed reflected his interest in Islamic history.
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Though there was no direct evidence Mahmood planned to use the bomb-making instructions for a specific attack, the presence of ball bearings suggested he was at least considering assembling such a device. The judge remarked that the extensive arsenal in an 18-year-old’s bedroom was a troubling indicator that warranted intervention.
Regarding the video, which Mahmood obtained in October 2023, the court heard he deliberately saved it to his phone, fully aware it was a bomb-making guide due to its clear visuals and subtitles. The judge noted Mahmood’s high level of interest in and support for banned terrorist organizations and emphasized the significant risk he posed of committing further offences.