The first Islamist extremist to be caught with plans for creating 3D-printed firearms has been sentenced to seven years in prison. Abdiwahid Mohamed, 33, from Neasden, north London, downloaded firearm manufacturing instructions using the encrypted messaging app Telegram from a far-right extremist channel, while attempting to purchase a 3D printer on eBay.
Authorities discovered these documents, along with pro-ISIS messages, after Mohamed’s phone was examined during a "schedule 7" stop at Heathrow Airport on February 9, 2022. This notable case marks the first instance where an Islamist has been found with plans to produce homemade weapons developed by anti-gun control advocates in the United States.
After arriving from Nairobi, where his family resides, Mohamed was later apprehended. Police found he was using Telegram to store 36 files detailing methods to construct firearms with a 3D printer. Notably, he utilized a private channel called "Tactic" for this purpose, which received material from another channel, "Between the Lines of Grift," established by Slovakia’s Pavol Benadik, a far-right extremist linked to a banned group.
Further investigation revealed Mohamed’s deep interest in weapons, terrorism, and radical Islamic ideology. He used the aliases "Ibrahim" and "John Wick" to engage in various chat groups, making alarming statements about violence and discussing his admiration for martyrdom.
The police found content revealing his aggressive sentiments, including comments advocating for violence against non-believers and sharing extremist propaganda related to ISIS. Upon arresting him, they also discovered a second mobile phone containing additional extremist material and eBay searches for 3D printers.
One particular file detailed the construction of a carbine assault rifle, while another instructed how to create a 9mm submachine gun from readily available materials. Although Mohamed declined to testify, his defense argued that some manuals necessitated advanced expertise for weapon assembly.
In his ruling, Judge Peter Lodder KC emphasized the evident terrorist connections and intent. Acting Commander Gareth Rees from Scotland Yard’s Counter-Terrorism Command underscored that despite Muhammad’s efforts to hide his activities through anonymous accounts and encrypted storage, law enforcement was able to trace his operations effectively.