Bolton man in court accused of distributing terrorist videos

Mohammed Hamasaleh is charged with seven counts of disseminating terrorist publications

A man accused of distributing terrorist videos via messaging platform Telegram has appeared in court via videolink.

Mohammed Hamasaleh, 24, from Bolton, has been charged with seven counts of disseminating terrorist publications between March 2022 and January 2023.

These include using Telegram to distribute videos, an audio recording of a speech by a leader of the Islamic State group, and a website address to encourage terrorist acts.

He is set to stand trial in May.

Among the videos alleged to have been distributed by Mr Hamasaleh include one titled "Trial and execution of x4 males for Mischief on Land" on June 19, 2022 and another called "Lions of the Battlefield 4" on September 16, 2022.

He appeared at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing and spoke via an interpreter to confirm his name by videolink from HMP Wormwood Scrubs.

Mr Hamasaleh, of Windermere Avenue, was remanded in custody until a pre-trial preparation hearing on 19 April with Judge Jeremy Baker KC setting a trial date for 13 May at Manchester Crown Court.

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