Gun plot attack accused refuses to attend court

An Old Bailey judge said she was satisfied Muhammad Billal had "voluntarily absented himself" from court proceedings

A teenager accused of planning a gun attack has declined to attend his first appearance at the Old Bailey in London.

Muhammad Billal, from Nelson in Lancashire, was arrested on 11 February and charged with two counts of the preparation of terrorist acts, relating to an alleged gun attack plan and travelling to Somalia.

It is alleged that, between February and October 2024, he researched "accessible shooting ranges" and the purchase of "chest rigs" designed to hold ammunition.

The 18-year-old is also alleged to have both conducted online reconnaissance of potential attack locations and to have sought to illicitly buy a firearm.

'Declined to leave cell'

He then went on to take steps to travel to Somalia between 7 October and 20 November, it is alleged.

According to the charge, he sought advice and guidance on how to leave the UK without arousing suspicion, changed his appearance, deleted extreme Islamic material from his mobile phone, bought clothes, equipment and online tickets.

He also obtained a visa to enter Ethiopia in order to facilitate crossing into Somalia, it is claimed.

The teenager is charged with three more offences of collecting information likely to be of use to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

The charges relate to issues of an online magazine used by Islamic State for propaganda and recruitment.

Mr Billal had been due to attend a preliminary court hearing at the Old Bailey by video-link from Wormwood Scrubs prison, but declined to leave his cell.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said she was satisfied he had "voluntarily absented himself" and continued proceedings in his absence.

Mr Billal's trial is provisionally set to begin on 26 January 2026 at Manchester Crown Court.

The judge, who said the teenager would be given a note explaining what he had missed in court, ordered him to attend a plea hearing at the Old Bailey on 18 July.