'Misguided' man who posted pro-Islamic State material on Twitter was attacked in prison after Arena bomb
Amir Maqbool has been jailed for two years and three months for encouraging terrorism and disseminating a terrorist publication
Andrew Bardsley
A 'misguided young man' who posted Tweets glorifying suicide bombers and supporting Islamic State has been attacked a number of times in prison in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena atrocity, a court heard.
Amir Maqbool, 26, from Cheetham Hill, has been jailed for two years and three months after pleading guilty to encouraging terrorism and disseminating a terrorist publication.
He has suffered a broken nose and black eye while in prison after being attacked a number of times, his barrister said.
Manchester Crown Court heard that between Christmas Day in 2016 and January 4 last year, Maqbool posted a number of tweets.
These included encouraging the use of suicide bombers, calling for the poisoning and bombing of water supplies and promoting the blowing up of Shia mosques.
WhatsApp messages on one device seized by police included Maqbool saying he had watched execution and beheading videos while 'eating crisps and chocolate'.
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He also retweeted an Islamic State video which glorified the acts of a suicide bomber, which showed images of men in conflict and the Islamic State flag, prosecutor Brett Weaver said.
Amir Maqbool
The court heard his Twitter account had been active since 2011, but the tone of his posts changed in November 2016 and became 'pro Islamic State'.
Some were anti-American, anti-Shia Muslim and referencing events in the Middle East.
In one tweet he supported Anjem Choudary, the radical preacher jailed for urging the support of Islamic State.
The tweets came to the attention of police, the account was shut down and Maqbool was arrested in March, last year.
On arrest officers heard him mutter: "I've been an idiot. Getting locked up for Twitter."
He was bailed and electronic devices were seized.
Police at a house in Durley Avenue, Cheetham Hill where a man was arrested on suspicion of terror offences (Image: Vince Cole)
Maqbool, of Durley Avenue, Cheetham Hill, was re-arrested in October last year and more devices were recovered which contained further pro-Islamic State material.
"He must have known there was a risk of posting such messages to encourage others to engage in acts of terrorism," Mr Weaver said.
"Bur rather than desisting he continued to do so."
Material found following his second arrest included a newsletter published on behalf of Islamic State.
He pleaded guilty to one count of encouraging terrorism and another count of disseminating a terrorist publication earlier this month, on the basis that his actions were 'reckless rather than intentional as to whether members of the public would be encouraged to commit acts of terrorism'.
Police at a house following Maqbool's arrest (Image: Vince Cole)
Defending, Naeem Mian QC, said that Maqbool had been 'deeply affected' by images of mass slaughter coming from Syria, but described the defendant as an 'idiot'.
"These are the ramblings of an immature young man," Mr Mian said.
"A pathetic, misguided young man who will now have to pay the price for his acts of stupidity by serving a custodial sentence and being labelled a terrorist."
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Mr Mian said Maqbool has suffered a broken nose and a black eye after being attacked while in prison in Manchester, in the aftermath of the Arena attack on May 22, last year.
He said: "As a result of the nature of the offences he has now pleaded guilty to he has been subjected to a number of physical attacks."
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
He said Maqbool had learnt a 'salutary lesson' and was genuinely remorseful.
Addressing the defendant, Judge David Stockdale QC said: "You were plainly interested in extremist Islam and the activities of Islamic State.
"This was immature behaviour over a relatively short period.
"That being said, offences including the encouragement terrorist acts and the dissemination of terrorist publication will always be treated by the courts as very serious offences."
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Manchester Crown Court