A nineteen-year-old man from Middlesborough, who amassed terrorist material and shared a video of himself ‘triggering’ an imitation suicide vest, has been imprisoned for 9-and-a-half years, following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East.
Mohammed Khalil Nadir (18/08/2007) of Clough Close, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court today (Tuesday, September 1) after he was found guilty of possessing articles for a terrorist purpose and disseminating terrorist publications during his trial in June.
Mohammed Khalil Nadir sentenced to 9 and a half years imprisonment
The jury heard how Nadir had researched the mock explosive vest worn during the Heaton Park Synagogue attack, before placing an order for a similar vest hours later. On the day the vest was delivered, Nadir added 500 steel ball bearings to his online shopping basket. He recorded a video of himself wearing the vest, modified with a fake wire and trigger, and overlaid the sound of an explosion before sharing it on Telegram.
In the searches that followed Nadir’s arrest in October 2025, officers found the weighted vest in his wardrobe, handwritten texts promoting martyrdom operations, and a wealth of terrorist material on his mobile devices. This material included Daesh propaganda videos, and texts calling for the killing of ‘disbelievers’.
Nadir was rigidly committed to his views and had an unhealthy interest in weapons. He continually sought out like-minded audiences online, rejecting anyone who challenged his twisted, violent rhetoric. Online chats and voice notes revealed his increasingly extreme mindset and a desire to use violence to create fear.
It was the disturbing combination of these escalating views and behaviours that ultimately led to his arrest and charge.
On his release, Nadir will be subject to an extended licence of 3 years, a Serious Crime Prevention Order for 5 years, and a Terrorism Notification Order for 30 years.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley is the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East. He said: “The evidence uncovered during this investigation clearly demonstrates Nadir’s deep-seated beliefs, which grew significantly over a two-year period.
“His possession of the weighted vest, and pending purchase of ball bearings, makes them all the more concerning.
“Nadir wasn’t simply in possession of high volumes of material which encouraged acts of terrorism. He deliberately shared terrorism guides and propaganda online and regularly used chat rooms to promote violence and justify martyrdom to others.
“There is no telling what harm this information could do in the hands of the wrong person.
“The public can help us to combat extremist content online. If you come across suspicious or concerning material, please report it in confidence at gov.uk/ACT.”