Birmingham PhD student found guilty of terror offence
Mohamad Al Bared has been convicted of plotting to supply so-called Islamic State terrorists with a drone
Last updated 28th Sep 2023
A University of Birmingham PhD student has been found guilty of plotting to supply so-called Islamic State terrorists with a drone capable of delivering a bomb or chemical weapon.
Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court deliberated for around six hours over two days before unanimously convicting Mohamad Al Bared, who designed and built the unmanned aerial device at his Coventry home.
The 27-year-old mechanical engineering graduate, of Kare Road, was found guilty of a single count of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts to benefit a proscribed terrorist organisation.
He had denied the charge, saying he'd only built the device for research purposes.
Al Bared was remanded in custody and told he may face a life term when he is sentenced in November.
Commenting on the investigation, Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Payne, the commander of the West Midlands Counter-Terrorism Unit, said of Al Bared: "He has built in his home address, using a 3D printer, a drone.
"He has then researched chemicals including sarin and ricin and mustard gas.
"It is our clear view that this man was very, very dangerous, that he was building something that was a weapon to be used to deliver chemicals to cause harm to people who didn't share his extremist views.
"This is clearly somebody who had a terrorist mindset."
DCS Payne said the inquiry had established that Al Bared - a "very, very intelligent" student - was planning to travel abroad to Turkey, and probably onwards.
"We also found an application form for Islamic State on his devices," the officer said.
"And that alongside all the other evidence that we had gives us a really clear picture of somebody who was intent on working with a terrorist organisation to cause mass harm, and probably fatalities to innocent people."