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‘Straight Isis supporter’ rapped about killing non-Muslims while plotting terror attack, court hears

'My shank penetrate ya, got my suicide vest, one click - boom - and I'll see you later,' Sahayb Abu rapped

Lizzie Dearden
Security Correspondent
Thursday 11 February 2021 17:37 GMT
Sahayb Abu had read Isis's Dabiq (pictured) and Rumiyah magazines, the court heard
Sahayb Abu had read Isis's Dabiq (pictured) and Rumiyah magazines, the court heard (Dabiq)

A man accused of plotting a terror attack called himself a “straight Isis supporter” and rapped about violent ways of killing non-Muslims days before his arrest, a court has heard.

Sahayb Abu, 27, had previously said he did not want to live until the age of 30, and purchased a sword, knife, body armour and balaclava.

A rap sent to two of his brothers on 5 July ended with the words: “My shank [knife] penetrate ya, got my suicide vest - one click, boom, and I'll see you later.“

In reference to the 2013 terror attack where two Islamist extremist murdered a soldier, Abu said: “I'm trying to see many Lee Rigby’s heads rolling on the ground.”

He added: “I shoot up a crowd cos I'm a night stalker, got my shank, got my guns - straight Isis supporter - reject democracy ... advocate sharia supporter.”

On Thursday, the Old Bailey was also played a video Abu sent to his brothers on 28 June.

It showed him singing: “No matter the way the wind blows, I will always be down with my bros, I will always be ready to eliminate the foes.”

In a text message to his brothers on 3 July, Abu said he “aspired not to live to be 30”.

The defendant claimed that the “world is against Muslims” and that he did not want to die until he had “gained some type of revenge”.

“The kuffar [disbelievers] have felt their share of pain, I just wish it was multiplied a million fold,” he added.

Two days before, he had ordered an 18in blade from an online shop that described it as a “deadly close-combat design … used by warriors”, and paid extra to have it sharpened before delivery.

Jurors were told that in June, Abu had contacted an online seller about buying a bow and arrows, saying he was “new to archery”. The purchase was not completed.

A screenshot of the weapon that Sahayb Abu attempted to purchase online
A screenshot of the weapon that Sahayb Abu attempted to purchase online ( )

The court heard that the sword and body armour Abu bought online never arrived because of intervention by authorities.

He had obtained a hat and balaclava, posing in them for videos sent to his brothers.

Several of the messages and rap videos were sent to his brother, 31-year-old Muhamed Abu, who has been charged with failing to tell authorities about the alleged plans.

Jurors were told that two of their brothers travelled to Syria in 2015 and died fighting for Isis, while a different brother, a sister and her husband were jailed for disseminating terrorist publications.

Prosecutor John McGuinness QC said Abu had also conducted numerous online searches for terror attacks in the UK, France and Germany.

Jurors were shown records of searches he allegedly made for Isis propaganda and lectures by extremist preachers including Anjem Choudary, Anwar al-Awlaki and Sheikh Faisal.

The court heard that Abu was arrested on 9 July, after meeting an undercover police officer who had infiltrated an jihadist chat group on the encrypted Telegram messaging app.

Abu, of South Norwood in London, denies preparing an act of terrorism. His brother, Muhamed, of Dagenham, denies failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism. The trial continues.

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