Man convicted of ISIS membership for sharing bomb-making material on Telegram
Abdullah Yousef, 24, has been found guilty of membership of ISIS and distributing terrorist materials after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. He created a Telegram group where he published extremist content including instructions for making suicide vests and videos glorifying the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. His conviction highlights concerns about how terrorist material is being disseminated online through encrypted messaging platforms to potentially vulnerable individuals.
Yousef arrived in the UK aged 15 claiming to be from Syria, though prosecutors suspect he is Egyptian, and was subsequently granted indefinite leave to remain. During his arrest on 16 December 2025, anti-terrorism police seized his mobile phone, which contained a document titled "homemade explosive belts" and evidence of his pledges of allegiance to the Islamic State. He was convicted of membership of a proscribed organisation, possession of information useful for terrorism, and six charges of disseminating terrorist publications.
- ISIS supporter convicted of distributing extremist material including suicide bomb-making guides
- Had been granted residency after illegally entering UK as teenager
- Created Telegram channel sharing terror content and 9/11 videos
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The Islamic State (commonly known as ISIS or Daesh) is a terrorist organisation designated as illegal in the UK and many other countries. Since emerging in 2014, it has used the internet and messaging apps to spread extremist propaganda and recruit followers, often targeting young or isolated people. Understanding how this online radicalisation happens is important context for cases involving people accused of supporting the group.
Encrypted messaging platforms like Telegram have become a concern for security services because they allow private communication that is difficult for authorities to monitor. Terrorist organisations have exploited these platforms to share propaganda, training materials, and recruitment content with potential supporters. This creates a challenge for law enforcement trying to detect and disrupt radicalisation networks before they lead to violence.
Young people arriving in countries like the UK can be particularly vulnerable to extremist messaging if they lack social connections or feel isolated. Online communities can seem to offer belonging and purpose, making extremist narratives appealing to those seeking identity or direction. This background helps explain why authorities focus on detecting these networks and why the spread of terrorist material online remains a pressing security concern.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Islamist who was allowed to stay in Britain after entering illegally as a teenager faces prison after joining ISIS and being found with ‘suicide bomb manual’”.