British teen jailed over ‘imminent’ terrorism plot

A British teenager who detectives believe may have been just hours away from launching an attack on police or soldiers, was on Friday sentenced to a minimum of six years in jail for terrorism offences.

Matthew King, 19, who converted to Islam during the COVID-19 lockdown and then became quickly radicalised by watching extremist material on the internet, had scoped out military barracks and a police station, and posted an image online of officers guarding a courthouse with the caption “target acquired”.

He had also discussed a desire to torture and kill a U.S. or British soldier, said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of London police’s Counter Terrorism Command, saying the speed of King’s self-radicalisation was striking.

Read more: Reuters