London Man Jailed for Urging Terror Attacks on Zimbabwe Govt via Facebook
Chilling Online Rants Spark Terror Probe
William Chinyanga, 52, used Facebook live-streams in December 2019 to stir up violence against Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu–PF party. Over two days, he openly called for bombings and attacks on soldiers and police, spreading dangerous hate from his North London home.
Police Crack Down After Public Tip-Off
The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command swooped after a concerned member of the public reported the videos. The posts were flagged by the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) as potential Terrorism Act offences.
Chinyanga was arrested on 25 February 2020 and admitted posting the inflammatory content during police interviews.
Three Years in Jail for Terror Incitement
At Kingston Crown Court on 16 December, Chinyanga was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. He was found guilty of two counts of encouraging terrorist acts under the Terrorism Act 2006. Two further charges were dropped.
Commander Richard Smith, Met’s Counter Terrorism head, said: “A member of the public did the right thing by reporting Chinyanga’s speeches. Dangerous online rhetoric can have real-world consequences. We urge everyone to report any material promoting terrorism.”
How You Can Help Fight Terror Online
- Report extremist content at www.gov.uk/report-terrorism
- Use the iREPORTit app, available on Google Play and Apple App Store, launched by MOPAC and CTIRU
The CTIRU leads national efforts to remove terrorist content from the internet. Communities play a vital role – your tips can stop terror in its tracks.
