Cyber-jihadist Younis Tsouli 'read al-Qaeda magazine in cell'

Magazine found just weeks before he was due to be released

Prison officers had twice carried out searches at Younis Tsouli's cell at Woodhill prison, but found nothing (Rex)

A jailed cyber-jihadist who went by the nom de guerre of 007 was discovered with a banned copy of an al-Qaeda magazine in his prison cell with details on how to smuggle a bomb on to an aircraft, a court heard today.

The magazine was found just weeks before Younis Tsouli was due to be released after being sentenced for 16 years for running jihadist websites and chat rooms aimed at recruiting suicide bombers and promoting al-Qaeda.

Prison officers had twice carried out searches at his cell at Woodhill prison, in Milton Keynes, but found nothing, the Old Bailey was told.

He had been moved to the jail for the final four months of his sentence from top-security Long Lartin jail where the 31-year-old is alleged to have obtained the magazine.

Tsouli initially claimed to prison officers that the magazine was part of his legal paperwork before telling one officer: “You know what, guv? Just take it and destroy it,” said Alex Chalk, counsel for the prosecution.

The trial continues.