Guest blog by CSC Research Intern Tom Parkinson:
Hammaad Munshi from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was today sentenced to two years in a young offenders institution after being convicted of offences under the Terrorism Act in 2006.
Only 16 at the time of his initial arrest, Munshi now 18 is the youngest person ever to be convicted under the act.
Munshi has been convicted of making a record of information likely to be used for terrorist purposes. During his trial at Blackfriars Crown Court, the jury heard that Munshi had viewed jihadist websites and downloaded guides for making napalm, detonators and explosives.
Summing up, the judge said Munshi had been influenced by "fanatical extremists”, and that “You have brought very great shame upon yourself, your family and your religion."
Shahid Malik, Munshi's local MP, said the teenager's family were "shocked and bewildered" and that "it is a real wake-up call for parents because there is a real need to be vigilant, especially when their kids are on the internet."
Malik went on to say "it is a real wake-up call to how older jihadists can prey on vulnerable young people. Mosques have done a lot but they need to do more in terms of telling young people what is acceptable and what is not in Islam."
