Nechells man jailed for 4 terrorism offences

A Birmingham man has been jailed for seven and a half years for four offences of disseminating extremist material.

Rayan Saab, aged 22, from Bloomsbury Walk, Nechells, was convicted in November at Birmingham Crown Court after being arrested in January last year by detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands CTU.

The offences took place  between April 2019 and December 2020.

Police seized several electronic devices from his home and, following examination, extremist material was found on each device.

The material contained information to assist someone committing or preparing an act of terrorism. He was charged on 26 January with five counts of disseminating terrorist publications.

In October prior to his trial, he admitted one of the five charges - sending a terrorist publication via social media in March 2020.

What should I do if I suspect somebody has committed a terrorist offence?

Detective Chief Superintendent Kenny Bell, head of the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, said: “We cannot underestimate the dangerous nature of the propaganda material and the influence it can have; which is why it is so important to hold to account those who share these videos with others.

“Police and other agencies can offer support to help safeguard those who are vulnerable to radicalisers.

"The sooner we can intervene, the better chance we have of preventing people from becoming embroiled in the conflict and facing potential prosecution."

Anyone who sees or hears something that could be terrorist-related should act on their instincts and call the police in confidence on 0800 789 321. In an emergency, always dial 999. Visit the ACT site for more information, including how to report extremist or terrorist content that is online

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