Former UoB Student Sent to Prison for Building ISIS Drone
A PhD student at University of Birmingham could face jail time for building a drone to be used by terrorist group Islamic State.
Mohammed al-Bared was 26 years old when he designed the drone. It had the capability to transport explosives or chemical weaponry into enemy territory. The Coventry resident, who was studying for a PhD at the University of Birmingham during this time, kept in touch with IS every week to discuss the progress of IS’s single-use drone.
After a raid in January, the drone and 3D Printer were found in his room.
It is believed that he used a 3D Printer, found in the house he lived with his parents to construct some of the components. The drone and the 3D printer were discovered in his bedroom following a January raid. The drone and 3D printer were confiscated by police along with several other devices, including a laptop and phones.
According to West Midlands detectives, review of the seized devices revealed multiple conversations demonstrating al-Bared’s support for IS, alongside extremist material. Police found that al-Bared completed an IS application form and had registered a UK-registered firm to facilitate plans for future travel abroad.
“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,” said DCS Mark Payne, as reported in the Guardian.
You can also find out more about the following: Commander of the West Midlands counter-terrorism unit stated that Bared ‘clearly had a terrorist mindset’.
This man was a very dangerous person in our opinion.
Al-Bared denies that he is an IS supporter and claims he built the drone to conduct his own research. Bared denied being obsessed with IS despite reports to the contrary. He claimed to only have researched the terrorist group online to argue against their aims.
Evidence presented in court showed al-Bared had researched chemicals such as sarin, ricin, and mustard gas, as well as material on electronic devices, detonators and an ‘explosive head’ for his drone. It was stressed that the detailed chemical equations found in his notebooks were not part of al-Bared’s university studies, and were intended to aid the construction of the ‘kamikaze’ drone.
The University of Birmingham where al-Bared completed his PhD stated that al-Bared had been suspended after his arrest. A University of Birmingham spokesperson stated the university continued to support authorities throughout the investigation, and have been ‘assured by police’ that there ‘was no threat or risk to University staff, students or the wider community.’
Al-Bared’s conviction was announced on September 28th, after a five-week long trial at Birmingham Crown Court.th. He was convicted on a single count for engaging in conduct to prepare terrorist acts in order to benefit a terrorist organization that is prohibited.
Al-Bared is still in police custody pending his sentencing date on 27th November. He could be facing a life-long sentence.
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