Drill rapper plotted sword terror attack in lockdown
Jihadi cited murder of Lee Rigby in his lyrics
DEAD? Wail and Suleyman
ONLINE MENACE
Sahayb Abu and the 18in blade
A JOBLESS jihadi who rapped about soldier Lee Rigby’s murder was yesterday found guilty of planning a terror attack.
Sahayb Abu, 27, bought an 18in sword, balaclavas, camouflage hat and body armour using his benefits.
As “Masked Menace”, the fan of drill rap – known for its violent lyrics – made videos and said he wanted to see “many Lee Rigbys’ heads rolling on the ground”.
Somalian-born Abu came into contact with an undercover police officer on an ISIS Telegram chat group. He is facing a lengthy sentence for preparing a terror act.
Commander
Richard Smith, head of
Met Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, said he was a “very dangerous individual”.
He said: “There is no doubt in my mind that Sahayb had murderous intent – some of that was evidenced from the kind of things he was posting online.
“The threat from terrorism has not gone away. We still face a substantial threat, which means an attack is likely.”
Abu’s half-brothers Wail and Suleyman Aweys are believed to have died after travelling to Syria in 2015. Two years later he was caught with half-brother Ahmed Aweys putting up posters that claimed British taxes had been used to “kill Muslims”. Aweys, 35, was jailed for 25 months in 2019 for disseminating terrorist material. His sister Asma Aweys was imprisoned for 19 months for collecting terrorist information.
While jailed for burglary at Wandsworth prison in South London, Abu associated with known terrorists including Husnain Rashid who was jailed for 25 years for calling for an attack on Prince George. Abu, of Dagenham, Essex, began forming plans following his release on March 20 last year. The Old Bailey heard when he met the undercover officer, Abu said he wanted to be an “action man rather than a chatty man”. His brother Muhamed Abu, 32, of Norwood, South London, wept as he was cleared of failing to disclose information about a plot to authorities. Fusilier Rigby, 25, was murdered by two men in May 2013 in South London.
A TORY MP has been accused of “callousness” after he claimed £1 on expenses for a visit to a foodbank.
Royston Smith registered a claim for car parking during a foodbank visit in November, official records show.
The same month it was reported locally that the MP for Southampton Itchen visited Kingsland Community Centre food bank in the city.
Mr Smith later said he had “thoroughly enjoyed” the visit, and that he had been able “to watch first-hand how the excellent volunteers are looking after those less fortunate”.
Labour’s Andrew Gwynne said: “Foodbanks are one of the ultimate symbols of a decade of Tory failure. But it takes a special sort of callousness to visit one then charge taxpayers for your parking.”
And Dr Alan Whitehead, the Labour MP for neighbouring Southampton Test, said: “Whilst it’s up to MPs what they claim for within the rules, car travel and parking around the constituency isn’t something I currently claim for.
And doing so isn’t usually at the forefront of my mind after getting to see the great work that local foodbanks and charities are doing to support residents.”
Mr Smith told the Mirror: “The visit was excellent, and I am very supportive of all those who are stepping up to help.
“I keep in regular contact with the volunteers and helpers and I have nothing but admiration and gratitude for everything they are doing.”
Foodbanks in Southampton reported “unprecedented” demand in the run up to Christmas, as the Covid-19 crisis led to more hardship than ever.
In the South East, the Trussell Trust handed out 85,876 food parcels between April and
September. Kingsland
Community Centre, the pop-up foodbank visited by Mr Smith, helped 600 families across four sessions in October.
A month before his visit, Mr Smith opposed a bid to force the Government to extend free school meals through to Easter. He said the vote on the issue was “politically motivated”.
On top of his £81,932 salary as an MP, Mr Smith is paid £24,000 a year for 10 hours’ work a month of “consultancy services” for Barker-Mill Estates, a property firm in Southampton.
He spent a total of £175,039.56 on expenses during the 2019-20 financial year, including £150,091.02 on office
running costs. Some £136,986.44 went on staff wages and £13,104.58 on other office expenditures. He spent £19,424.23 of his accommodation budget of £22,920, and a further £5,524.31 on travel and subsistence. Yet his total claims were slightly below the average for MPs of £188,295. Mr Smith was elected to the Itchen constituency in 2015. He held on to the seat by just 31 votes in 2017, making his the narrowest Tory marginal. But in 2019 he increased his majority to 4,498 after the Brexit Party abandoned plans to stand against him. He had reportedly told a constituent: “If the Brexit Party stood against me there is a very real chance I would lose.” In 2012, Mr Smith was given a Pride of Britain award for bravery, after he wrestled a gunman to the ground during a visit to nuclear submarine HMS Astute. Ryan Donovan shot two officers, killing one, before Mr Smith tackled him.
It takes a special callousness to visit a foodbank and then charge taxpayers for parking
ANDREW GWYNNE LABOUR MP CRITICISES TORY ROYSTON SMITH