Mother jailed for hiding son's terror chats

Nabeela Anjum was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court

A mother who failed to inform police about her son’s links to a man planning a terror attack has been jailed for three years.

Biomedical scientist Nabeela Anjum, 49, of Upland Road, Roundhay, Leeds, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Monday after being found guilty in May.

Jurors had seen messages proving she knew her teenage son, Sameer, was in contact with Al-Arfat Hassan, a drill rapper who admitted possessing chemicals for terrorist purposes.

James Dunkerley, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said the conviction showed “how important it is to report serious information to the police”.

He said: “We are all under a legal duty to report to the police any information which we know or believe might be of assistance in preventing an act of terrorism.

“You may think that you are helping and protecting someone by withholding information, but you are not, and it can make things worse.”

“Family and friends are best placed to know when something doesn’t feel right. By seeking support at an early stage, together we can prevent them from being drawn into harmful groups or activities and help them choose a different path.”

Anjum was charged in October 2023 after police produced a chronological timeline of WhatsApp messages and calls that showed she knew her son was aware of the plot.

She worked as a specialist biomedical scientist at Leeds General Infirmary and St James's Hospital.

She had asked him to stop communicating with Hassan, even though she later denied knowing about the activity.

She will serve the third year of her sentence on licence.

Anjum will also be subject to a Part 4 Notification Order under the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 for 10 years.

Hassan and Sameer Anjum had sent each other extremist messages, graphics and voice notes almost daily over a number of months.

Hassan, who was based in London, appeared at The Old Bailey on 10 November 2023 and pleaded guilty to having 500ml of acetone and 750 ml hydrogen peroxide articles in his possession, with the purpose of using them for an act of terrorism.

Sameer was also jailed for two and a half years for not telling police about Hassan’s intentions with the chemicals.

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