Man jailed for sharing Daesh propaganda and terrorist content online
Hamza Alam, 22, from Romford, east London, has been sentenced to five years in prison for spreading extremist material glorifying Daesh and encouraging terrorism. The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command brought him down after a thorough investigation.
‘Online librarian’ was no innocent bystander
Alam, who went by the alias ‘H’, claimed during police interviews that he was merely an “online librarian” sharing content as a public service. But officers disagreed. Devices seized from him revealed he was an admin on a Telegram channel pushing terrorist publications urging Jihad.
Specialist detectives uncovered more posts on his social media glorifying Daesh fighters and advocating violent terrorist acts.
Met’s Counter Terrorism boss hits back
Detective Chief Superintendent Gareth Rees, heading the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Alam insisted he was simply an ‘online librarian’ providing a service to the public. That was not the case. By sharing violent and extreme terrorist publications, he’s now a terrorist offender and has been sentenced accordingly.”
“He shared this content deliberately and recklessly to encourage others to commit acts of terror. Such material fuels radicalisation, especially among young people in our communities. Our officers worked tirelessly to piece together Alam’s activities and show we will bring offenders like him to justice.”
Convicted on multiple terror charges
Alam was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of three counts of disseminating terrorist publications and one count of encouraging terrorism through social media posts that incited violence and praised the 9/11 attackers.
He was first arrested in June 2022 and charged in March 2023. While out on bail, he was rearrested in September 2023 for encouraging terrorism.
Communities urged to stay vigilant
Counter-terror teams rely on the public to report suspicious activity. If you suspect someone of engaging with terrorist material or plotting violence, don’t hesitate. Report anonymously at www.gov.uk/act or call the anti-terror hotline on 0800 789 321. In emergencies dial 999.
For help supporting someone who may be radicalised, visit the ACT Early website.
