An alleged IS supporter accused of sharing the address of Prince George’s school on an encrypted messaging app has denied terror charges.
Husnain Rashid is said to have used the Telegram app to post an image of the four-year-old prince, a silhouette of a jihadi and a message reading: “Even the Royal Family will not be left alone.”
Prince George is the first-born son of Kate Middleton and Prince William of Wales, and is third in line for the British throne.
Rashid pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts earlier this week, and 32-year-old also denied a count of encouraging terrorism, two counts of dissemination of a terrorist publication, and failing to comply with a notice under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. He faces another charge of transmitting terrorist publications electronically.
The offences allegedly took place between October 2016 and November 2017, the court heard.
Rashid is accused of using Telegram to send links to another user of videos, documents and materials which set out how to shoot down a plane with a laser, manufacture explosives in a confined space and jam anti-tank ground missiles.
He had created a network of instant messaging channels aimed at “lone mujahid and aspiring lone mujahid”, the court heard.
Rashid is accused of uploading materials to the channels that could help others with planning an attack.
In one post he urged people to “fight and spill the blood to the apes in your land”, the court heard.
In another he allegedly wrote: “Start planning, start scouting targets, start monitoring entry/exit routes, start preparing tools and weapons/explosives.”
Rashid is also accused of messaging people that he believed to be in IS territories before asking their advice on routes to travel to Syria and Turkey.
He bought equipment and sought a recommendation so that he could join the terror group, the court heard.
Rashid reportedly analysed the Besiktas football stadium bomb in in Turkey in 2016 to try to find ways the attack could have been carried out more successfully and at similar venues in the UK.
