A TikTok user who obtained a video detailing bomb-making methods, which is believed to have been utilized in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack, has been sentenced to prison.
Adam Mahmood, who was 18 at the time and boasted over 27,000 followers on TikTok, solicited this dangerous content from another user. The video is associated not only with the bombing at Manchester Arena but also with a failed attempt to detonate explosives on a London Underground train at Parsons Green.
In September, after a week-long trial, Mahmood was convicted of possessing material that could assist in committing or preparing for acts of terrorism. The video, lasting close to 15 minutes, provided explicit guidance on creating a homemade explosive commonly referred to as the "mother of Satan," along with instructions on crafting a detonator and packing the device with ball bearings to enhance its lethality, as detailed by Birmingham Crown Court.
Mahmood downloaded the video via Telegram in October 2023 and last viewed it in March 2024, just days prior to his arrest. During a police search of his family home in Birmingham, where he lived with his parents and two brothers, authorities discovered an alarming assortment of weapons in his bedroom. This included multiple knives, a ball bearing gun, and numerous ball bearings.
His TikTok profile featured images of him wearing a balaclava against a backdrop of a black Islamic flag, alongside various weapons such as a bow, an axe, and a sword. Authorities found the bomb-making video on his phone, alongside propaganda from the Islamic State that glorified martyrdom and depicted executions and beheadings.
In court, Mahmood, now aged 20, argued that he did not consider himself an extremist and claimed he had only briefly watched the bomb-making video, allegedly missing crucial information. He also insisted that the weapons displayed in his room were merely collectibles related to television or gaming and were intended for “cosplay.”
However, Judge Simon Drew KC remarked that the presence of ball bearings in Mahmood's bedroom indicated he was at least contemplating the assembly of such a dangerous device.
"You intentionally saved this video to your phone. Its visuals and subtitles clearly indicated it was instructional material for making bombs," the judge stated during sentencing, branding him a "dangerous" individual. Judge Drew noted that the contents of Mahmood's phone demonstrated a significant interest in, and support for, banned terrorist organizations, suggesting he was on a troubling path toward deeper involvement in terrorist activities.
The judge also pointed out the concerning array of medieval weaponry in Mahmood's possession, stating, "The existence of such an arsenal in the bedroom of an 18-year-old serves as a stark warning sign—one that, unfortunately, no responsible adult intervened to address."
Consequently, Mahmood was sentenced to four years in youth detention, followed by an additional three years under extended surveillance.
