German Teen Jailed for Sharing ISIS Videos at Stansted
Florian Flegel, 23, was stopped by counter-terrorism officers at Stansted Airport on 12 October 2020. He was about to board a flight to Cologne when agents seized his phone under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Officers uncovered extremist videos on his device linked to Daesh propaganda. Flegel was promptly arrested on terrorism suspicion.
Sent Violent Terror Videos to Friend
At Woolwich Crown Court on 7 September, Flegel was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison. Prosecutors revealed he had sent six separate Daesh propaganda videos to a friend between July and September 2020 via a messaging app.
The court heard the pair discussed violent acts and support for Daesh’s aims. In one chilling chat, they plotted a terror attack before Flegel sent an execution video. Fortunately, no evidence showed he made concrete plans to carry out any attack.
Claimed He Didn’t Know Videos Were Illegal
During police interviews, Flegel claimed the content was downloaded from public media sites and he was unaware it was illegal. He pleaded guilty to six charges of disseminating terrorist publications under the Terrorism Act 2006.
Tough Sentence Includes Licence Extension and Long-Term Monitoring
- Three years and eight months’ jail
- 12-month licence extension after release
- 10-year notification requirement under the Counter Terrorism Act 2008
Flegel was first charged on 18 November 2020 and admitted his guilt at Woolwich Crown Court on 15 March 2021.
