East London News A Force for the community…
A POLICE OFFICER has revealed how the force was alerted to the activities of Khalid Javed Baqa, 53, of East London, and how they investigated the case and came up with the evidence that led to his conviction.
Baqa was convicted at the Old Bailey of five counts of dissemination of terrorist publications, contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism Act – in connection with activities he undertook between June 2016 and June 2017.
He returned to the Court at the end of last month for sentencing and received prison sentences totalling four years and eight months. The case centred on the allegation that Baqa had distributed extreme Islamist and terrorist-related leaflets and CDs of speeches which encouraged violence.
Baqa first came under suspicion when a Tube driver on a route through East London found a carrier bag left on his train Inside were papers which included references to “jihad” – which made the driver hand the bag into the police.
The police carried out a long and detailed investigation. They identified Baqa on CCTV footage taken in the Tube system. They traced him on CCTV footage outside the Tube – including a recording of him going into and out of the Royal London Hospital with the carrier bag. It was later found that he had left CDs and pamphlets in the hospital.
Police found leaflets and CDs at Baqa’s home and found records of him using print shops in East London to copy the leaflets. The investigation was finally sealed when police were able to obtain Baqa’s fingerprints and confirm that these were also on the leaflets.
During the investigation, police found evidence that Baqa had recruited a 17 year old to help him distribute the material. The teenager was charged with one count of dissemination of terrorist material and two counts of doing an act encouraging or enabling another to commit an offence, contrary to Section 44(1) of the Serious Crime Act. He appeared at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court, pleaded guilty ad was sentenced to a 12 month intensive referral order.
Commander Clarke Jarrett, Head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said, “Baqa was reproducing and distributing terrorist related material in the hope of getting others involved and drawn into the same toxic ideology he was peddling. Not only that, but he also radicalised and involved a young impressionable 17-year-old, whom he then used to help distribute his pamphlets and CDs.
“This investigation came about after a vigilant tube driver found suspicious items that had been left on his Tube and reported this to police. As a result, we were able to link the material to Baqa and uncover what he was up to. It shows the importance of reporting this kind of activity to police, however small, and I’d urge the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious.”
•Anyone who sees anything suspicious is urged to report their concerns to the police by filling in the secure form at www.gov.uk/act or calling police in confidence on 0800 789 321. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111, where you can give information anonymously.
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