Akeem Samuels Pic: Metropolitan Police

A 22-year-old man from south-east London has been sentenced to four years in prison following an investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

Akeem Samuels, from Camberwell was arrested on suspicion of encouraging terrorism on 18 August 2016 after posting extremist content on social media in breach of Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006. The postings included a video of a gloved hand holding a knife and machete making stabbing motions.

During a search of his home address in Camberwell Green, officers recovered items including a machete and gloves that featured in the online video. They also seized media devices that contained ISIS images and videos that were copied and edited by Samuels before he posted them online.

Detectives discovered numerous twitter accounts encouraging and supporting ISIS which were attributed to Samuels. All the postings were subsequently removed and accounts closed down.

On 9 November 2016, Samuels was charged with seven offences contrary to S1 (2) Terrorism Act 2006 and two charges contrary to section 29C Public Order Act 1986 and remanded in custody.

Wyndham and Comber Estate

Samuels appeared at the Old Bailey on 23 March this year via video-link and pleaded guilty to the nine charges and was remanded for sentencing on Friday, 28 April, when he was jailed for a total of four years.

Following sentencing, Commander Dean Haydon, the head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Extremist posts like these have the power to influence many vulnerable people and stir up racial hatred.

“My officers are working relentlessly to identify and arrest those responsible for this kind of online content and put them before the courts.

“Anyone who sees material that they suspect is extremist or terrorist is urged to report it on the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321 or online at www.gov.uk/report-terrorism