Student guilty of terror offences

British-born Muslim student Mohammed Atif Siddique, 21, provided training material on booby-trap bomb-making and threatened to become a suicide bomber.

A jury at the High Court in Glasgow took almost nine hours to convict Siddique, from Alva, Clackmannanshire, of possessing and distributing a range of Islamist terrorist material via websites and providing instructions about guns and explosives over the internet. During the trial, which lasted almost four weeks, Siddique was branded a "wannabe suicide bomber" by the prosecution.

Documents and footage linked to him were also described as "a call to arms for Muslims" during proceedings.

Siddique had denied three charges under the Terrorism Act 2000, one under the Terrorism Act 2006 and a breach of the peace charge. He was accused of possessing and collecting items such as CDs and videos on weapons use, guerrilla tactics and bomb-making which could be used for terrorist purposes.

Siddique was also accused of setting up websites with links to terrorist publications which showed how to use weapons and make bombs, and distributing terrorist publications via links on a website. He was further accused of causing a breach of the peace at Glasgow Metropolitan College by threatening to become a suicide bomber and blow up Glasgow, as well as showing images of suicide bombers and beheadings.

The offences were alleged to have been carried out between March 1 2003 and April 13 2006. He sat motionless and looked straight ahead as the guilty verdicts were returned.

Judge Lord Carloway said: "You have been convicted of significant contraventions of the Terrorism Act in particular on charge one of having articles in your possession connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism. The court must take these offences extremely seriously."

He warned Siddique he was considering an extended sentence which would mean a jail term, followed by a term on licence.

Outside the court, Siddique's solicitor, Aamer Anwar, said they were considering an appeal. He also said his client could face a maximum 15 years behind bars for the offence. Sentencing will take place on October 23 at the High Court in Edinburgh.