Teen terrorist 'copied Manchester synagogue attack' to trigger fake suicide vest

Teen terrorist 'copied Manchester synagogue attack' to trigger fake suicide vest Mohammed Khalil Nadir, 19, researched the imitation suicide vest used by the Manchester synagogue attacker Jihad Al-Shamie in 2025. A teenager who amassed terrorist material and shared a video of himself 'triggering' an imitation suicide vest has been jailed. Mohammed Khalil Nadir had researched the mock explosive vest worn during the Heaton Park Synagogue attack, before placing an order for a similar vest hours later. On the day the vest was delivered, Nadir added 500 steel ball bearings to his online shopping basket. He recorded a video of himself wearing the vest, modified with a fake wire and trigger, and overlaid the sound of an explosion before sharing it on Telegram. Nadir shared the footage of himself "triggering" the mock vest after researching the device worn by Jihad Al-Shamie during the attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, Counter Terrorism Policing North East (CTPNE) said. Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed when Al-Shamie, 35, drove into the gates of the synagogue on October 2 2025 and began attacking with a knife while wearing the fake belt. Nadir was jailed at Leeds Crown Court after he was found guilty of possessing articles for a terrorist purpose and disseminating terrorist publications at his trial in June. The 19-year-old, from Middlesbrough, was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years following the counter terror investigation. In the searches that followed Nadir's arrest in October 2025, officers found the weighted vest in his wardrobe, handwritten texts promoting martyrdom operations, and a wealth of terrorist material on his mobile devices, including Daesh propaganda videos and texts calling for the killing of 'disbelievers.' Nadir was rigidly committed to his views and had an unhealthy interest in weapons, Counter Terrorism Policing North East has said. He continually sought out like-minded audiences online, rejecting anyone who challenged his "twisted, violent rhetoric", police said. Online chats and voice notes revealed his increasingly extreme mindset and a desire to use violence to create fear. Nadir will be subject to an extended licence of three years, a serious crime prevention order for five years, and a terrorism notification order for 30 years once he is freed. Nadir was arrested by Counter Terrorism Policing North East (CTP NE) and Cleveland Police as part of an intelligence led operation in October 2024. In July 2025, he was charged with possessing a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid/gas/electrical incapacitation device (Taser), contrary to section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968. Nadir pleaded guilty to the Taser charge and was given a Youth Justice Referral Order for nine months in August 2025. Det Chief Supt James Dunkerley, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: "The evidence uncovered during this investigation clearly demonstrates Nadir's deep-seated beliefs, which grew significantly over a two-year period. His possession of the weighted vest, and pending purchase of ball bearings, makes them all the more concerning. "Nadir wasn't simply in possession of high volumes of material which encouraged acts of terrorism. He deliberately shared terrorism guides and propaganda online. He regularly used chat rooms to promote violence and justify martyrdom to others. There is no telling what harm this information could do in the hands of the wrong person." He added: "The public can help us to combat extremist content online. If you come across suspicious or concerning material, please report it in confidence at gov.uk/ACT."