Sussex man who incited terrorism jailed

Abu Baker Deghayes of Arundel Drive, Saltdean in Brighton was sentenced to four years imprisonment with one year on licence after he was found guilty of encouraging terrorism following a trial at the Central Criminal Court on January 19.

The 53-year-old man was charged after encouraging terrorism during an unwanted speech at Dyke Road Mosque in Brighton on November 1, 2020, police said.

During the speech, Abu Baker said committing jihad was an obligation and encouraged jihad by the sword.

Detective Chief Superintendent Oliver Wright, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE), said: “Deghayes used a toxic rhetoric that could radicalise others, but his destructive views were rejected by the community he was preaching to.

“In the speech he made, he was at risk of persuading others to take action and follow his extremist view of the world but, due to the diligence and awareness of the people it was directed at, his actions were reported, and he was subsequently convicted of this serious crime.​

“It is vitally important that people have the courage to report their concerns to the police when they witness extremism being promoted in this way. We rely on those who see or hear this sort of messaging, to have the confidence to report it.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone within the community who supports and assist police officers during investigations of this nature. We can only fulfil our mission of keeping our communities safe by working together."

Sussex Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, Tanya Jones, said: “Abu Baker Deghayes’ corrosive ideology tried to sow division in the community.

“This sentence reaffirms our commitment, alongside our partners in Counter Terrorism Policing South East, to root out those who spread hateful, extremist views and bring them to justice.

“Brighton and Hove is a city famous for its inclusivity and acceptance and our officers have continued to carry out engagement work in the community to address any concerns.

“I would like to thank everybody who supported the investigation and helped to secure this conviction.

“If you have any concerns, please report them to us via the Sussex Police website, by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.”

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