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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Airport woman hid terror manual | Airport woman hid terror manual |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A woman has been jailed for two years after admitting hiding "a mini encyclopaedia of weapons-making" in a USB device in the sleeve of her burka. | |
| Houria Chahed Chentouf, 41, admitted two counts of possessing documents likely to be useful for a terrorist purpose, at Manchester Crown Court. | Houria Chahed Chentouf, 41, admitted two counts of possessing documents likely to be useful for a terrorist purpose, at Manchester Crown Court. |
| The memory stick fell on the floor when she was being interviewed at Liverpool John Lennon Airport on 16 October 2008. | The memory stick fell on the floor when she was being interviewed at Liverpool John Lennon Airport on 16 October 2008. |
| The Moroccan national walked free from court having served her time on remand. | The Moroccan national walked free from court having served her time on remand. |
| Chentouf had been stopped at the airport and was being interviewed by officers when the USB pen drive dropped from her clothes. | Chentouf had been stopped at the airport and was being interviewed by officers when the USB pen drive dropped from her clothes. |
| Martyrdom support | Martyrdom support |
| It had been tied to the inner sleeve of her burka, but fell out as she reached down to scratch her leg, prosecutor Simon Denison told the court. | |
| She was released by the airport authorities, but was later arrested at a house she was renting in Reynell Road, Longsight. | |
| The mother-of-six was charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 with possessing an article which gave rise to suspicions that "the possession was for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism". | The mother-of-six was charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 with possessing an article which gave rise to suspicions that "the possession was for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism". |
| Chentouf dropped the memory stick at Liverpool airport | |
| It was described by police as "a mini encyclopaedia of weapons-making", the court heard. | It was described by police as "a mini encyclopaedia of weapons-making", the court heard. |
| Evidence was also uncovered from internet chat rooms which indicated her support for those seeking martyrdom. | Evidence was also uncovered from internet chat rooms which indicated her support for those seeking martyrdom. |
| But Judge Michael Henshell, sentencing, said the Crown had accepted that she had no intention of using the material. | But Judge Michael Henshell, sentencing, said the Crown had accepted that she had no intention of using the material. |
| He said Chentouf had "developed an obsessive interest in Jihad". | He said Chentouf had "developed an obsessive interest in Jihad". |
| "Offences of this sort must be sentenced to immediate custody to deter others from behaving as you have," he said. | "Offences of this sort must be sentenced to immediate custody to deter others from behaving as you have," he said. |
| The fact she had this documentation in her possession constitutes a serious offence Det Ch Supt Tony Porter | |
| Despite the "huge amount" of material found on the pen drive there was "no evidence you intended to pass it on to anybody", the judge added. | Despite the "huge amount" of material found on the pen drive there was "no evidence you intended to pass it on to anybody", the judge added. |
| "The Crown accept there was no intention of putting it into practical use," said the judge. | "The Crown accept there was no intention of putting it into practical use," said the judge. |
| The court was told that Chentouf suffers from a mental illness which was triggered by the death of a family member and the judge said her behaviour may have been affected by this. | The court was told that Chentouf suffers from a mental illness which was triggered by the death of a family member and the judge said her behaviour may have been affected by this. |
| Her culpability was also at the lower end of the scale for the offence, he added. | Her culpability was also at the lower end of the scale for the offence, he added. |
| Chentouf lived in The Hague for more than 20 years and the Dutch authorities were also involved in the inquiry. | Chentouf lived in The Hague for more than 20 years and the Dutch authorities were also involved in the inquiry. |
| Speaking after the hearing, Det Ch Supt Tony Porter, of the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, said: "The pen drive did not contain any personal material, it was mainly used to store material that could be used to promote terrorism. | |
| "While it is fair to say we cannot be sure what Chentouf was preparing to do with this information, the fact she had this documentation in her possession constitutes a serious offence." |