Jacob Graham, a 20-year-old student from Liverpool, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after being found guilty on seven terror charges. Known online as “Destro the Destroyer”, Graham authored a terror guide named the Freedom Encyclopaedia, aimed at providing “misfits” and “social nobodies” with instructions on manufacturing weapons, explosives, and poisons. The guide included detailed methods for creating bombs and gunpowder, with Graham acquiring materials such as chemicals and a 3D printer to support his activities.

The prosecution stated that although there was no evidence Graham intended to execute a terrorist act himself, his online guidance aided other extremists. His motivations were attributed to a disdain for the government, with his actions perceived as being fuelled by a left-wing anarchist ideology. The court labelled Graham as a dangerous offender due to the significant risk he posed to the public, influenced in part by his admiration for Theodore Kaczynski, the US terrorist known as the Unabomber, and expressed grievances toward his college and potential violent acts.

In defense, Frida Hussain KC argued that Graham was affected by the lockdown and his young age during the time of the offences, suggesting his activities were driven by escapism and fantasy rather than a concrete plan to commit terror acts. Nonetheless, due to the severity of his preparations and the potential threat he represented, Mr. Justice Goose imposed a 30-year notification requirement on Graham in addition to his prison sentence.

Following Graham’s sentencing, Detective Superintendent Andy Meeks from UK counter-terrorism highlighted an alarming trend of young people being radicalised online. This concern is exacerbated by statistics revealing a record number of under-18s being detained on suspicion of terror offences, underscoring the impact of increased internet usage and the accessibility of extremist material during the pandemic lockdowns. These developments stress the ongoing challenges faced by security and counter-terrorism forces in combating online radicalisation among youth.