A self-styled “Anglo-Jihadi” Muslim convert has been found guilty of plotting a bomb and terror attack on a major shopping centre.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Jordan Richardson, 21, was in possession of a mustard gas recipe in his bag when he was arrested by police on his way to work on December 19.
Richardson had also plotted to “shoot”, “stab” and “throw grenades” into a crowd.
Jurors were told that the 21-year-old had a link to an Isis-bomb making instruction video, which was also used by the perpetrator of the Manchester Arena terror attack, Salman Abedi.
Jordan Richardson, 21, was in possession of a mustard gas recipe in his bag when he was arrested by police in December
|
COUNTER TERRORISM POLICING NORTH EAST
The Muslim convert shared the idea of launching an attack on Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre with someone online.
After Richardson’s home in Howden, West Yorkshire was raided by police, officers discovered a combat knife and a crossbow.
Leeds Crown Court heard that the 21-year-old told a police officer that he was an Isis supporter as he was awaiting trial.
Richardson was found guilty of three counts of encouraging terrorism, two counts of possessing bomb-making instructions useful for terrorism, preparing acts of terrorism by acquiring weapons, researching explosive substances, identifying possible locations and considering the steps required for an attack.
The British Muslim convert shared the idea of launching an attack on Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre
|
MEADOWHALL
Richardson was also found in the possession of a note which appeared to outline detailed plans for a terror attack when he was arrested last year.
The note read: “Reach hidden vantage point, apply gas mask, outfit, load crossbow, throw all grenades into crowd, shoot bystanders, stab anyone who come close, do not get taken alive.”
Prosecutor Katherine Robinson told the court that Richardson converted to Islam in April last year and he soon became interested in extremism.
The 21-year-old sent messages to other users on social media detailing how he wanted to kill non-believers and described himself as a terrorist.
He wrote: “Inshallah, I pray to be a jihad and to be martyred for Allah.”
Ms Robinson told Leeds Crown Court that Richardson frequently expressed extreme hatred for Jewish people, spoke about killing them and referred to them as “the big noses”, “the pillagers” and “the money”.
The prosecutor told jurors that he “was not simply a keyboard warrior or fantasist, but a person who was dangerously far down the road to carrying out terrorist acts”.
Richardson is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Richardson frequently expressed extreme hatred for Jewish people
|
PACounter-Terrorism Policing North East’s Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley said: “Jordan Richardson was preparing to conduct an attack on members of the public, and to become a martyr to others who share his ideology.
“This case shows the real-world threat that terrorist content online poses, and how quickly people who view this content can radicalise themselves.”
Bethan David of the Crown Prosecution Service labelled the 21-year-old a “dangerous individual”.
She added: “He researched how to make explosive substances, bragged about doing so, and had credible recipes for creating mustard gas and TATP, which if used would cause mass injury and devastation”.
