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Britain’s youngest terrorist jailed over plot to kill police can be freed, Parole Board rules

Written by on 18/01/2021

Britain’s youngest terrorist – who plotted to murder police officers at the age of just 14 – can be freed from jail, the Parole Board has ruled.

Now aged 20, the man – from Blackburn, Lancashire – sent encrypted messages instructing a jihadist to launch attacks during an Anzac Day parade in Australia in 2015.

The man, who can only be identified as RXG, was jailed for life in October that year after admitting inciting terrorism overseas.

In a document detailing the decision to release him from prison, the Parole Board said: “After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in detention, and the evidence presented at the hearings, the panel was satisfied that RXG was suitable for release.”

Aged 14, the teenager took on the role of “organiser and adviser” in a plot to kill officers at an annual Anzac Day event, held in memory of Australians and New Zealanders killed in conflict, in Melbourne on 25 April 2015.

A court in 2015 heard he had been recruited online by Islamic State propagandist Abu Khaled al-Cambodi.

Over nine days, he sent thousands of messages to 18-year-old jihadist Sevdet Besim, encouraging him to behead or use a car to kill officers at the parade.

Australian police were alerted to the plot after British officers discovered material on the teenager’s phone and the attacks were prevented.

In 2016, Besim – then 19 – was handed a 10-year sentence by a court in Victoria for his role. He is expected to serve at least seven-and-a-half years.

The UK Parole Board cleared RXG to leave prison at his first review after he became eligible for release in October.

Two hearings took place, in September and earlier this month, before the decision was made, during which RXG said he hoped he would be freed.

According to the Parole Board document, “risk factors” he displayed at the time of his offending included “not coping well with feelings of anger, being manipulative, not being open and honest with people, his lack of maturity, obsessional behaviour, the influence on him of associates, unhelpful beliefs and extremist views, his radicalisation and his affiliation with ISIS”.

Since that time, he was diagnosed with autism in 2017 and while behind bars has worked to “address his offending behaviour, his understanding of Islam and to develop his level of maturity”.

But the body said RXG will be subject to strict licence conditions upon his release, including having to live at a designated address, wearing an electronic tag and attending supervision appointments, as well as adhering to restrictions on his movements, contacting people and using technology.

His identity will remain a secret for the rest of his life after a High Court ruling last year.

Granting RXG lifelong anonymity, Dame Victoria Sharp said identifying him was likely to cause him “serious harm” and it was therefore necessary for the rare step – taken in only a small number of cases.

Only a handful of similar orders have been made, including those granted to Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, who murdered Liverpool toddler James Bulger, and child killer Mary Bell.

(c) Sky News 2021: Britain’s youngest terrorist jailed over plot to kill police can be freed, Parole Board rules