Gym instructor who called himself “Anglo Jihadi” found guilty of terror offences

A gym instructor who called himself “Anglo Jihadi” has been found guilty of terror offences.

Jordan Richardson, 21, of East Yorkshire, was arrested on 19th December last year whilst wearing a backpack containing a mustard gas recipe and plans to attack against a crowd. The note read: “Reach hidden vantage point, apply gas mask, outfit, load crossbow, throw all grenades into crowd, shoot bystanders, stab anyone who come [sic] close, do not get taken alive.”

During proceedings, the court heard that police discovered a combat knife and crossbow at Mr Richardson’s residence.

It was revealed that he frequently expressed the desire to kill Jews and referred to them as “the money”, “the pillagers” and “the big noses”.

He had also researched how to volunteer for Hamas and said he wanted to “fight Jews”, even joking about entering a synagogue wearing a suicide vest.

According to the prosecution, Mr Richardson had plans to get married and become a teacher in order to radicalise children.

In November, when discussing “possible locations for an attack”, he had shared a video of a shopping centre in Meadowhall with the caption: “How life feels when you finally give up and just start killing people brutally.”

He also shared content by Al-Qaeda and ISIS, including instructions for making a bomb.

Mr Richardson was found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism by acquiring weapons, researching explosive substances, identifying possible locations and considering the steps required for an attack, three counts of encouraging terrorism and two counts of possessing bomb-making instructions useful for terrorism.

He is expected to be sentenced next month.

Image credit: Counter Terrorism Policing