Self-described left-wing anarchist found guilty of terror offenses in UK

By Mehmet Solmaz

BIRMINGHAM, England (AA) - A self-described left-wing anarchist was found guilty Friday of terrorism offenses at the Manchester Crown Court.

Jacob Graham, 20, who was arrested in May 2023, was cleared of planning a terror attack but was convicted on seven other charges, including preparing an act of terrorism and disseminating terrorist material.

The court heard that Graham acquired and hid materials to make an explosive substance. He also worked on a document setting out his plans to prepare for a bombing campaign and said he would end his violence by carrying out a shooting.

In a document called "My Plan,” he said he wanted to kill at least 50 people by attacking government buildings and the homes of politicians.

Graham will be sentenced March 18.

He told the court he did not like the way "corporations act and how they damage the Earth."

"I think it is fair to say I was quite anti-government. I didn't agree with the idea of it - the way certain things were handled, the pandemic, the cost of living,” he said.

Jurors were shown portions of 105 home videos that Graham recorded of himself in his bedroom. Graham had also carried out "experiments" on low explosive devices, some of which he filmed.

Following his arrest, Counter Terrorism officers found a 3D printer, which the prosecution said could be used to print parts of homemade firearms.

An "online arsenal" of information on his computer devices was also found that contained information on the manufacture of deadly weapons and explosives, many of which could be made at home, with basic skills, using materials or ingredients that could be gotten a hold of relatively easily.

Graham used Discord and the encrypted Telegram app to communicate with others who shared his views.

In online groups, he shared his manual that explained how to build a pipe bomb, gunpowder and plastic explosives and instructions on how perpetrators could evade police.