A schoolboy who converted to Islam considered targeting a music festival on the Isle of Wight in 2022—which singer Lewis Capaldi and rock band Kasabian were headlining—a jury has been told.
The boy, who was 15 at the time of his arrest, developed an “Islamic extremist mindset” and was recommended for the government’s Prevent programme, a jury at Kingston Crown Court has heard.
Prosecutor Serena Gates said the boy, who is now 16 but cannot be named for legal reasons, sent ISIS videos of beheadings to others online who shared a “similar mindset.”
Ms. Gates said: “There is no dispute the videos he sent out concerned terrorist activity, predominantly relating to the group known as Islamic State. Parts of the videos contained graphic images of violence and executions.”
The court heard the FBI tipped off British counter-terrorist police after discovering a user of the messaging app Discord who was discussing an attack on July 11, 2022.
The boy was arrested on the same day and was charged with preparation of terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.
He was later charged with three counts of dissemination of terrorist publications, and having an article with a blade or point in a public place. He denies all the charges.
Internet Searches for Isle of Wight Festival
Opening the prosecution case on Wednesday, Ms. Gates said the boy had obtained a knife and used his computer to search on the internet for, “gun Isle of Wight,” “fast lorry,” “how many people are going to Isle of Wigh (sic) fest” “Isle of Wight Festival gate” and “Isle of Wight Festival gate names.”The jury was told the boy messaged another Discord user and said, “I heard you were going to attack the festival is this true.”
Ms. Gates said: “Following the earlier searches for knives and what was permissible and/or justified under Islam, the prosecution say these further searches could only be in order to provide information to (the boy) that would assist him in the planning of an attack. His first target appears to be the Isle of Wight Festival.”
She said he later dropped the idea of targeting the music festival because he did not have a car. Instead, he planned to stab people at a specialist education provider.
Staff Member who Drew Picture of Allah ‘Shouldn’t Feel Safe’
Another note found at the boy’s home suggested he was offended by a member of staff at his specialist education provider drawing a picture of Allah.Another note alleged that staff members “shouldn’t feel safe.”
Ms. Gates said the defendant converted to Islam in late 2021 and although his conversion was initially believed to be, “having a positive impact” on him, the tutors who worked with later changed their opinion after he discussed moving to Saudi Arabia but then said it was “too liberal.”
She said the boy also expressed support for the murderous attacks on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in 2015.
At one point, the boy had a picture of Osama bin Laden as his screen saver on his phone but a tutor believed he, “was often trying to shock people with what he said.”
The jury heard staff at the specialist education provider had considered referring him to the government’s Prevent anti-radicalisation programme but he became angry when he learned about the proposal, and the idea was dropped.
The trial is set to last several weeks.
