ISIS Supporter who Encouraged Terrorism in Newport Jailed

A Newport man has today, March 6, been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for supporting the proscribed organisation ISIS.

21-year-old Shazad Ali from the Newport area of Gwent was convicted on 5 September after he pleaded guilty to multiple terrorism offences.

Ali was convicted of the following:

• Support for the Proscribed organisation ISIS, Contrary to Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000
• Two counts of encouragement of terrorism, Contrary to Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006
• Possession of documents likely to be useful to a terrorist, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The 21-year-old was arrested in January 2025 and during a house search, officers recovered digital devices which uncovered that Ali had a library of terrorist publications. He also publicly shared several extreme Islamist videos online.

Investigators found that he had:

• Posted hundreds of propaganda videos on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.

• Run Telegram chats discussing ISIS with people he believed were members.

• Attempted to recruit a 17-year-old and other individuals online into the organisation.

Shazad Ali was sentenced on Friday March 6, at Bristol Crown Court. He was also handed an additional two years on extended licence.

Detective Chief Inspector Leanne Williams, Counter Terrorism Policing Wales said: “Shazad Ali represented a very clear, very dangerous threat to the public, and this sentence concludes what has been a lengthy investigation conducted by CTP Wales.

Ali visibly expressed his support for the Islamic State, and it was our overriding priority to ensure the public were protected from both him and the abhorrent rhetoric he promoted.”

Reporting won’t ruin lives, but it could save them. Action Counters Terrorism. Remember, in an emergency, always dial 999.