LONDON, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A 16-year-old boy from Bradford in Yorkshire was handed out a five-year prison sentence on Friday after being found guilty of terrorism and explosives-related offenses.
Under the age of 18, people convicted in Britain cannot be named, but the judge in Leeds issued an order enabling Kieran Cleary's name to be made public. He was found guilty at a trial in May.
Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North East (CTPNE) arrested college student Cleary in August 2018 under terrorism legislation.
Following a trial at Leeds Crown Court, he was found guilty of making an explosive substance and three offences under terrorism laws of possessing records of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
CTPNE said the teenager first came to the notice of police in 2016, and was referred to the Prevent de-radicalization program.
"Despite the hard work of Prevent, officers and other safeguarding professionals, Cleary's behavior continued to be of serious concern and the decision was made to arrest him," said the CTPNE spokesperson.
When officers searched Cleary's home, they found in his bedroom a device constructed in line with instructions around the manufacture of a CO2 bomb. The device was not fully completed and was not classed as viable.
Analysis of Cleary's online activity showed extensive research around bomb-making, searches about attacks on Muslims, and a wide range of videos showing death, mutilation and torture, clearly showing an escalating interest in violence and extreme ideology, added the spokesperson.
Detective Chief Superintendent Martin Snowden, head of CTPNE, said: "This is a disturbing case of a teenager who developed an alarming interest in extremist ideology, violence, firearms and explosives. He has spent considerable time alone on the internet and has intentionally accessed the "dark web."
"His fascination with violence and death is particularly concerning given his age and vulnerability. We will always try to intervene as early as possible to support those at risk of radicalization.
"Despite extensive attempts to steer this boy away from the path of criminality, due to the progression of his behavior, he was arrested and charged with serious offenses.
"His online searches, combined with the manufacture of an explosive device, had the potential to put the safety of others at risk and could not go unprosecuted."
