Salford Terror Suspect Jailed for Six Years Over ISIS Propaganda
Ataubaq Taj from Salford’s notorious Hacking Street has been slammed with a six-year sentence at Manchester Crown Court. He faces five years behind bars, plus an extra year on licence after his release.
Guilty of Possessing Terrorist Materials
Last month, a jury convicted Taj under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for holding documents likely to aid terrorism. The court revealed that Taj had hoarded disturbing ISIS propaganda on multiple devices, including his phone, laptop, USB sticks, and CDs.
Among the seized files was a chilling ISIS video showing brutal knife killings and instructions to build improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The footage graphically depicted the murder of two men.
Two Arrests and a Web of Lies
Taj was nabbed twice by Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) — first in July 2019 at his Lancashire home in Accrington, and then again in January at his updated Salford abode. During the initial raid, officers found a USB stick hidden in his shoe. Taj claimed it fell through a hole in his pocket, but investigators exposed his story as false.
After detailed analysis confirmed the extremist content, Taj was re-arrested in January 2020. The overwhelming evidence left the jury in no doubt, leading to a swift guilty verdict after just over an hour of deliberation.
Police Warn Public to Stay Vigilant
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Meeks said: “This conviction reflects months of painstaking work by our officers. While Taj had no known plans to act on the material, possessing such dangerous propaganda is a serious threat. We remain committed to protecting communities from extremist ideologies.”
CTPNW urges the public to report suspicious activity. If you see or hear something off, trust your instincts and act by contacting the police in confidence at gov.uk/ACT.
