London Man Jailed for Urging Bomb Attacks on Zimbabwe’s Government
William Chinyanga, 52, has been locked up for three years after live-streaming rants calling for bombings and attacks on soldiers and police in Zimbabwe. The north Londoner used Facebook in December 2019 to spread dangerous messages targeting Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu–PF.
Social Media Rants Spark Terror Probe
Chinyanga’s inflammatory speeches caught the eye of a vigilant member of the public who reported the videos to the police. The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command swiftly launched an investigation. Their Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) found the posts potentially broke the Terrorism Act.
He was arrested at home in north London on 25 February 2020 and admitted posting the videos during police interviews.
Convicted for Encouraging Terrorism
At Kingston Crown Court on 16 December, Chinyanga was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of two counts of encouraging terrorist acts. He was acquitted of two other similar charges.
Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “It was a report from a member of the public that brought Chinyanga’s speeches to police attention. That person did the right thing. We urge everyone to report anything online that promotes terrorism. Dangerous rhetoric can have real-world consequences.”
How to Report Terrorist Content Online
- Report suspicious material at www.gov.uk/report-terrorism
- Use the iREPORTit app available on Google Play and Apple App Store, created by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and CTIRU.
The CTIRU works nationally to remove terrorist content and relies heavily on public tips to stop dangerous material spreading online. The message is clear: communities play a vital role in defeating terrorism.
