Howden man sentenced for planning terrorist attack

A 21-year-old man has today (Thursday January 29, 2026) been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 16 years for planning an act of terrorism.

Jordan Richardson, from Howden near Goole, was found guilty in November following a three-week trial at Leeds Crown Court. He was also found guilty of multiple offences of possessing and disseminating terrorist information.

Richardson was arrested in December 2024 by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, supported by Humberside Police, following an intelligence-led operation which discovered that he was preparing a terrorist attack.

When he was arrested, he was found to have handwritten notes in his backpack which detailed his attack plan, as well as ingredients and instructions on how to make mustard gas. Officers found weapons including a crossbow, crossbow bolts, and a combat-style knife at his home.

Read more: UK Counterterrorism Police