Man jailed for pro-terrorist messages on social media

Zakir Hussain from Harlow has been jailed for posting pro-terrorist messages on social media, as well as antisemitic posts.

Hussain, 30, was arrested in March last year after officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command linked him to an X (formerly Twitter) account posting statements in support of Hamas and Hizbollah.

Using the account @lewiswarren911, Hussain posted a series of messages on X between November 2023 and January 2024 that celebrated the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, as well as writing numerous antisemitic comments, some of which praising Hitler.

When arrested, Hussain was already serving a suspended sentence or a conviction of malicious communications offences committed in 2021 and 2022, including sending abusive posts on social media to the sister of a man who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Hussain was charged on 27th March last year with four counts of supporting a proscribed organisation, contrary to section 12 (1A) of the Terrorism Act 2000 and seven counts of publishing threatening, abusive or insulting material, contrary to section 19 of the Public Order Act.

Hussain pleaded guilty to all charge on this first day of trial at the Old Bailey on Thursday 20th March. He was sentenced on 26th June to five years and eight months’ imprisonment, plus another three years on extended licence.

He has been in custody for the past year.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This investigation started as the result of an anonymous report by a member of the public appalled by the content of Hussain’s X account.

“Our Counter-Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) assessed the content of the posts as being in breach of terrorism legislation and a proactive investigation was launched.

“This case demonstrates, yet again, that we will act when we receive information about social media content that is unlawful. When this happens those responsible can expect to be investigated and prosecuted where the evidence allows.”