Teen accused of terror plot ‘got jihadist terms from Four Lions’
A BOY accused of plotting a terror attack has told his trial he used jihadist phrases after becoming influenced by the satirical film Four Lions.
At 14, he allegedly became “mesmerised by martyrdom” and made videos influenced by Islamic State in which he talked about carrying out jihad. But at Leicester Crown Court, the teenager told the jury: “I don’t mean what I said.”
The defendant, who cannot be named because of his age, said he had used phrases meaning “non-believers” in his videos because he had heard them in Four Lions.
Jurors previously heard that he researched items to make basic devices, such as bottle bombs, and added some to his mother’s Amazon wish list. Asked how he had found out how to make bottle bombs, the boy, from Eastleigh, Hants, said: “A Youtube video.”
The court was shown a video the defendant had recorded of a bottle bomb exploding in his wardrobe. The schoolboy said: “I think it was just me showing a fake audience how to make a bomb. A different type of bomb.”
Mary Prior QC, his barrister, asked the teenager about a video he had made in which he had used the word “kuffar”.
Asked why he had used words meaning “non-believers”, the boy said: “Because I saw it in a film, Four Lions.”
Questioning the teenager on his behaviour as a whole, Ms Prior said: “Why are you doing this?” “I don’t really know,” he said. Ms Prior continued: “How do you feel about it now?” He said: “Upset … because it is nasty stuff. I don’t like watching it because it is evil. I don’t mean what I said.”
Referring to words said in a video about martyrdom being a “sweet but worth prize for carrying out jihad”, Ms Prior asked: “Did you plan to kill yourself ?” “No,” the defendant replied. Ms Prior asked: “Did you plan to kill somebody else?” He replied: “No, I did not.”
The teenager denies one count of preparing acts of terrorism.
The trial continues.
‘I feel upset about it. It is nasty stuff. I don’t like watching it because it is evil. I don’t mean what I said’