Latest news with #HakanBarac
The National
08-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Extremist jailed for posting ISIS videos after arriving in UK by small boat
An asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by small boat has been jailed for posting videos in support of ISIS. Hakan Barac, 28, came to the UK illegally but was in the process of applying for asylum when he was arrested by counter-terrorism police last year. The Turkish national had been posting videos on social media sites, including Instagram and Telegram, glorifying ISIS and terrorists Osama bin Laden and Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, Bristol Crown Court heard. The videos showed extremists preparing for martyrdom and also featured Saudi-born Canadian recruiter Mohammed Khalifa. Barac, who was living in Newport, south Wales, was jailed for 45 months after previously pleading guilty to five counts relating to the online distribution of terrorist publications and one of expressing support for a proscribed organisation. Passing sentence, judge Martin Picton said Barac had shared material glorifying "violent terrorism" and said he would be automatically referred for possible deportation. 'Anybody posting material of this nature runs the risk of encouraging another to commit an act of terrorism,' he said. "This is not a victimless crime and the maximum penalty, as well as the relevant sentencing guidelines, reflect that position. You are here seeking asylum but at the same time choose to disseminate material that strikes at the very heart of our democratic society.' Prosecutor Ben Lloyd said the material found on Barac is 'extreme in nature and depicts graphic violence" which demonstrates that 'he is of an Islamic extremist mindset'. "It was apparent that a substantial number of followers to his accounts were interested in extreme Islamic subject matters,' he said. Detective Chief Inspector Leanne Williams, from Counter Terrorism Policing Wales, described Barac as 'a dangerous individual' who 'clearly expressed his support for the Islamic State'. 'It was our absolute priority to ensure the public were protected from him and the abhorrent rhetoric he espoused,' she said. Tim Forte KC, defending, said Barac had pleaded guilty on the basis that there was "no intention to assist or encourage" and the posts had only been seen by a small number of people. 'He thought he had a hundred followers. That's not a huge group in a country of 60 million; in a world of eight billion," he said. 'Given it's global, it's a relatively small number. There is no evidence that others have acted or been assisted." The UK has seen a steady stream of migrants arriving by small boat since 2018. So far this year, UK authorities have recorded 6,796 making the crossing, compared to 5,517 over the same period in 2024.
The National
08-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Islamic extremist jailed for posting ISIS videos after arriving in UK by small boat
An asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by small boat has been jailed for posting videos in support of ISIS. Hakan Barac, 28, came to the UK illegally but was in the process of applying for asylum when he was arrested by counter-terrorism police last year. The Turkish national had been posting videos on social media sites, including Instagram and Telegram, glorifying ISIS and terrorists Osama bin Laden and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Bristol Crown Court heard. The videos showed extremists preparing for martyrdom and also featured Saudi-born Canadian recruiter Mohammed Khalifa. Barac, who was living in Newport, south Wales, was jailed for 45 months after previously pleading guilty to five counts relating to the online distribution of terrorist publications and one of expressing support for a proscribed organisation. Passing sentence, judge Martin Picton said Barac had shared material glorifying "violent terrorism" and said he would be automatically referred for possible deportation. 'Anybody posting material of this nature runs the risk of encouraging another to commit an act of terrorism,' he said. "This is not a victimless crime and the maximum penalty, as well as the relevant sentencing guidelines, reflect that position. You are here seeking asylum but at the same time choose to disseminate material that strikes at the very heart of our democratic society.' Prosecutor Ben Lloyd said the material found on Barac is 'extreme in nature and depicts graphic violence" which demonstrates that 'he is of an Islamic extremist mindset'. "It was apparent that a substantial number of followers to his accounts were interested in extreme Islamic subject matters,' he said. Detective Chief Inspector Leanne Williams, from Counter Terrorism Policing Wales, described Barac as 'a dangerous individual' who 'clearly expressed his support for the Islamic State'. 'It was our absolute priority to ensure the public were protected from him and the abhorrent rhetoric he espoused,' she said. Tim Forte KC, defending, said Barac had pleaded guilty on the basis that there was "no intention to assist or encourage" and the posts had only been seen by a small number of people. 'He thought he had a hundred followers. That's not a huge group in a country of 60 million; in a world of eight billion," he said. 'Given it's global, it's a relatively small number. There is no evidence that others have acted or been assisted." The UK has seen a steady stream of migrants arriving by small boat since 2018. So far this year UK authorities have recorded 6,796 making the crossing, compared to 5,517 over the same period in 2024.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Small-boat migrant posted pro-terrorist videos while seeking asylum in UK
A judge has criticised a small-boat migrant who posted pro-Islamic State videos online while applying for asylum. Hakan Barac, 28, a Turkish national reached the UK two years ago and was in the process of applying for asylum when he was arrested by counter-terrorism police last year. Bristol Crown Court heard Barac had been posting videos on social media sites including Instagram and Telegram glorifying IS and terrorists Osama bin Laden and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The videos showed jihadists preparing for martyrdom, and also featured Mohammed Khalifa, the Saudi-born Canadian recruiter. Barac, of Newport, South Wales, previously pleaded guilty to five counts relating to the online distribution of terrorist publications, and one of expressing support for a proscribed organisation. Jailing Barac for 45 months, Judge Martin Picton said Barac had shared material glorifying 'violent terrorism'. 'The dissemination of material of this kind has the clear potential to be supportive of such activity,' he said. 'It is apparent from your own use of social media that you have a mindset that is aligned with that ideology. 'The pattern of terrorist activity in modern times demonstrates the potential for individuals to be encouraged by material they see posted on social media so as to carry out acts of violence. 'Anybody posting material in the nature that features in this case runs the risk of encouraging another to commit an act of terrorism. 'This is not a victimless crime and the maximum penalty, as well as the relevant sentencing guidelines reflect that position. 'I accept you have had a difficult life and that you have navigated a challenging route to get to this country. 'You are here seeking asylum but at the same time choose to disseminate material that strikes at the very heart of our democratic society. 'For you to behave in that way when seeking refuge in this country is very difficult to understand and must seem utterly unacceptable to all right-thinking people.' Ben Lloyd, prosecuting, said: 'It was apparent that a substantial number of followers to his accounts were interested in extreme Islamic subject matters. 'The defendant shared such material recklessly. In other words, he was reckless as to whether an effect of his posting the material would be the direct or indirect encouragement to the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. 'The prosecution's position is that the defendant's activity, while not intentional, nevertheless involved a repeated and wilful disregard with a clear, serious and obvious risk of encouraging terrorist activity.' Mr Lloyd said that investigators found other material that he had posted online shortly before his arrest glorifying IS and martyrdom. 'The prosecution position is that the possession and sharing of this material demonstrates that defendant itself is of an Islamic extremist mindset,' he said. 'It is extreme in nature and depicts graphic violence and his possession of it demonstrates an escalation in the nature of the material he was viewing and sharing the days before his arrest.' Mr Lloyd said Barac had entered the UK illegally on a small boat on April 22 2023. 'He does not have leave to remain, but he is permitted to stay while an application for asylum is considered and he has no previous convictions recorded against him in this jurisdiction,' he said. Tim Forte KC, mitigating, said Barac had pleaded guilty on the basis there was 'no intention to assist or encourage' and the posts had only been seen by a small number of people. 'He thought he had a hundred followers – that's not a huge group in a country of 60 million, in a world of eight billion,' he said. 'Given it's global, it's a relatively small number. There is no evidence that others have acted or been assisted.' Judge Picton said due to the sentence, Barac would be automatically be referred to the authorities to consider deportation. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Small-boat migrant posted pro-terrorist videos while seeking asylum in UK
A judge has criticised a small-boat migrant who posted pro-Islamic State videos online while applying for asylum. Hakan Barac, 28, a Turkish national reached the UK two years ago and was in the process of applying for asylum when he was arrested by counter-terrorism police last year. Bristol Crown Court heard Barac had been posting videos on social media sites including Instagram and Telegram glorifying IS and terrorists Osama bin Laden and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The videos showed jihadists preparing for martyrdom, and also featured Mohammed Khalifa, the Saudi-born Canadian recruiter. Barac, of Newport, South Wales, previously pleaded guilty to five counts relating to the online distribution of terrorist publications, and one of expressing support for a proscribed organisation. Jailing Barac for 45 months, Judge Martin Picton said Barac had shared material glorifying 'violent terrorism'. 'The dissemination of material of this kind has the clear potential to be supportive of such activity,' he said. 'It is apparent from your own use of social media that you have a mindset that is aligned with that ideology. 'The pattern of terrorist activity in modern times demonstrates the potential for individuals to be encouraged by material they see posted on social media so as to carry out acts of violence. 'Anybody posting material in the nature that features in this case runs the risk of encouraging another to commit an act of terrorism. 'This is not a victimless crime and the maximum penalty, as well as the relevant sentencing guidelines reflect that position. 'I accept you have had a difficult life and that you have navigated a challenging route to get to this country. 'You are here seeking asylum but at the same time choose to disseminate material that strikes at the very heart of our democratic society. 'For you to behave in that way when seeking refuge in this country is very difficult to understand and must seem utterly unacceptable to all right-thinking people.' 'He shared such material recklessly' Ben Lloyd, prosecuting, said: 'It was apparent that a substantial number of followers to his accounts were interested in extreme Islamic subject matters. 'The defendant shared such material recklessly. In other words, he was reckless as to whether an effect of his posting the material would be the direct or indirect encouragement to the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. 'The prosecution's position is that the defendant's activity, while not intentional, nevertheless involved a repeated and wilful disregard with a clear, serious and obvious risk of encouraging terrorist activity.' Mr Lloyd said that investigators found other material that he had posted online shortly before his arrest glorifying IS and martyrdom. 'The prosecution position is that the possession and sharing of this material demonstrates that defendant itself is of an Islamic extremist mindset,' he said. 'It is extreme in nature and depicts graphic violence and his possession of it demonstrates an escalation in the nature of the material he was viewing and sharing the days before his arrest.' Mr Lloyd said Barac had entered the UK illegally on a small boat on April 22 2023. 'He does not have leave to remain, but he is permitted to stay while an application for asylum is considered and he has no previous convictions recorded against him in this jurisdiction,' he said. Tim Forte KC, mitigating, said Barac had pleaded guilty on the basis there was 'no intention to assist or encourage' and the posts had only been seen by a small number of people. 'He thought he had a hundred followers – that's not a huge group in a country of 60 million, in a world of eight billion,' he said. 'Given it's global, it's a relatively small number. There is no evidence that others have acted or been assisted.'
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Newport asylum seeker jailed for glorifying terrorism on social media
An Islamic extremist who arrived in the UK seeking asylum has been jailed for supporting terror group Islamic national Hakan Barac, 28, of Commercial Road, Newport, posted videos on social media sites glorifying terrorists Osama bin Laden and Abu Bakr admitted five counts relating to the online distribution of terrorist publications, and one of expressing support for a proscribed was sentenced to three years and nine months at Bristol Crown Court and will referred to authorities to consider deportation. Barac, who reached the country two years ago, was arrested by counter-terrorism police last posted videos on social media sites, including Instagram and Telegram, that showed jihadists preparing for martyrdom as well as featuring Saudi-born Canadian recruiter Mohammed Khalifa, the court Lloyd, prosecuting, said other material was "extreme" and depicted graphic violence."It was apparent that a substantial number of followers to his accounts were interested in extreme Islamic subject matters," he Forte KC, defending, said Barac had pleaded guilty on the basis there was "no intention to assist or encourage" and the posts had only been seen by a small number of people. 'Abhorrent rhetoric' But in handing down a 45-month sentence, Judge Martin Picton said Barac had shared material glorifying "violent terrorism"."The dissemination of material of this kind has the clear potential to be supportive of such activity," he said."It is apparent from your own use of social media that you have a mindset that is aligned with that ideology."The pattern of terrorist activity in modern times demonstrates the potential for individuals to be encouraged by material they see posted on social media so as to carry out acts of violence."He added: "You are here seeking asylum but at the same time choose to disseminate material that strikes at the very heart of our democratic society."For you to behave in that way when seeking refuge in this country is very difficult to understand and must seem utterly unacceptable to all right thinking people."Det Ch Insp Leanne Williams, from Counter Terrorism Policing Wales, said: "Without any doubt, Hakan Barac is a dangerous individual. "Barac clearly expressed his support for the Islamic State, and it was our absolute priority to ensure the public were protected from him and the abhorrent rhetoric he espoused."
