Hamas supporter in PM knife emoji threat jailed

A self-styled "keyboard warrior" and Hamas supporter who threatened Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with a knife emoji on social media has been jailed for a year.

Mohammed Nafees Ahmed, 32, from Tipton, near Birmingham, had previously appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court to admit eight charges of supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation.

The court heard he sent posts to politicians in the UK and US - including President Biden - following the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.

Jailing him at the Old Bailey, Judge Nigel Lickley KC said his offences were so serious only an immediate jail term would do.

The court heard Ahmed dedicated his X account to Gaza and Israel, after Hamas attacks saw more than 1,100 killed.

At the time, the defendant had 19 followers, but his account was open, prosecutor Peter Ratcliff said.

Ahmed sent posts to Sir Keir, then Labour leader, and James Cleverly and Suella Braverman, then foreign secretary and home secretary respectively.

He also addressed posts to US president Joe Biden and vice-president Kamala Harris, taunted the Metropolitan Police with an antisemitic slogan, and sent swear words to broadcaster Piers Morgan.

Ahmed was warned by X his account would be locked, the court heard, but it remained active and posts could be viewed.

"Having regard to his use of knife icons threatening politicians, a Jewish religious leader and broadcaster in the context of advocating attacks on Israel, it is open to conclude the defendant has terrorist motivations," Mr Ratcliff said.

Arrested in March, Ahmed initially made no comment before accepting a device was his and providing the access code.

In mitigation, David Martin-Sperry said Ahmed acknowledged his actions were "misguided and ill thought-out", describing himself as an "idiot".

The married father-of-two had worked as an accountant during the week and a pharmacy delivery driver at weekends, but had since lost his job with a Walsall housing group and was working as a food delivery driver, the court heard.

Mr Martin-Sperry said Ahmed's "lapse of judgement" came after seeing images of injured children and he knew little about the organisation he purported to support.

Ahmed did not see himself as antisemitic and had "no connections to the Middle East", Mr Martin-Sperry said.

On the defendant identifying himself as a "keyboard warrior", the barrister said he was "in no sense a warrior against anybody on any score" and had been a "good person".

However, the judge told Ahmed: "I am satisfied you had terrorist motivations. I am satisfied you knew Hamas was a proscribed organisation despite you saying you were not aware."

He said his offending came at a time of "greatly heightened emotions", adding: "Your words played a part in a worldwide dialogue at the time. Your behaviour cannot be overlooked."

Ahmed was also sentenced to a further year on extended licence.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.