A British-Algerian man from Southampton has been imprisoned for six years after pleading guilty to distributing ISIS propaganda videos and expressing support for the banned terrorist organisation on social media.
Abdullah Bellil, 29, shared a series of extremist videos to his 1,453 followers on Instagram, with Kingston Crown Court hearing that the most serious was a “call to arms” posted in April 2024.
Judge Sarah Plashkes KC described the video as calling for horrific revenge killings at a detention camp, highlighting the dangerous nature of the material Bellil was circulating online.
Counter-terrorism officers arrested Bellil at his rented flat in East Street, Southampton, on 18 December 2024, just six days after he had begun renting the property. The swift intervention came as police discovered disturbing evidence about his activities.
Investigators found proof that Bellil was planning to travel abroad to carry out violent jihadi acts and had been discussing with others the practical steps on how to join a terrorist group. He also actively encouraged the study of Islamist preachers amongst his online following.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, emphasised the serious threat posed by individuals like Bellil who spread extremist content on social media platforms.
“We know that terrorist groups like Daesh use social media to spread their toxic ideologies and to radicalise people,” Commander Murphy stated.
“We’ve also seen people go on to commit attacks or carry out terrorist activity after they were radicalised from what they’ve seen online. That is why it is so dangerous when people like Bellil are sharing and spreading this kind of material online.”
Commander Murphy stressed that police will investigate and identify those sharing terrorist material, warning there are very real consequences for such actions. He urged public support in reporting suspicious online content to enable authorities to take appropriate action.
“Public support is also vital and would urge anyone who spots material online that could be terrorist-related, to report it to us, so that we can take a look and take action where necessary,” he added.
Bellil was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on 10 October after pleading guilty to four charges of distributing the contents of a terrorist publication, contrary to Section 2(1)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2006.
He also admitted one charge of expressing an opinion or belief that was supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely ISIS, contrary to Section 12(1A) of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The court imposed an additional extended licence period of one year on top of the six-year custodial sentence. Bellil must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence in prison before he will be considered for parole.
Analysis of Bellil’s Instagram account revealed he was posting videos in support of ISIS specifically designed to encourage acts of terrorism. The content was shared repeatedly with his substantial online following over an extended period.
The Metropolitan Police’s investigation uncovered communications in which Bellil provided practical guidance to others on how to join terrorist organisations, demonstrating his active role in attempting to facilitate extremism.
Bellil’s case comes amid heightened concerns about online radicalisation following the Manchester synagogue attack, in which two Jewish men were killed by an assailant who had also descended into Islamic extremism through viewing ISIS videos online.
The Manchester attacker, 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, pledged allegiance to ISIS during his deadly rampage on 2 October 2025, which occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
A friend identified only as Qas revealed that Al-Shamie had started using Telegram and searching for ISIS videos in the period leading up to the attack. The terrorist even attempted to display such material at a shisha lounge, according to witness accounts.
Qas told Sky News: “Once, he even tried to show me one at the shisha lounge. I told him to go away and asked how he even got access to that content, and he said it was through Telegram.”
The friend said he subsequently distanced himself from Al-Shamie, adding: “After that, I didn’t see him for a long time until I heard what had happened.”
Al-Shamie’s descent into extremism through online content mirrors the concerns raised by authorities about the dangers of terrorist propaganda circulating on social media platforms and encrypted messaging applications.
The Manchester attack killed Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both members of the Jewish community from Crumpsall. Three other men were seriously injured during the incident at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.
Armed police shot dead Al-Shamie at the scene after he drove a car into pedestrians before attempting to break into the synagogue whilst stabbing people. Officers discovered he was wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest, though it was later determined to be non-viable.
Minutes after emergency services were first alerted, Al-Shamie telephoned 999 claiming responsibility for the attack and pledging allegiance to Islamic State, according to Counter Terrorism Policing North West.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts confirmed that authorities are now more confident Al-Shamie was influenced by extreme Islamist ideology, with the emergency call forming part of that assessment.
Al-Shamie had not been referred to the Prevent programme, the UK’s nationwide initiative designed to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism, nor was he otherwise known to Counter Terrorism Policing prior to the attack.
However, he was on bail at the time for an alleged rape and had a record of violent and abusive behaviour towards multiple women, including allegations of manipulation and coercive control.
The cases highlight the lethal consequences that can follow when individuals become radicalised through consuming extremist material online, particularly via platforms like Telegram that offer encrypted communications.
Terrorist organisations including ISIS have long exploited social media and encrypted messaging services to spread propaganda, recruit followers and inspire attacks in Western countries.
The UK government has faced ongoing pressure to work with technology companies to better monitor and remove extremist content whilst balancing concerns about privacy and free speech.
Commander Murphy’s comments underscore the Metropolitan Police’s determination to pursue those who facilitate terrorism by sharing extremist material, regardless of whether they themselves carry out attacks.
The extended licence period imposed on Bellil means he will face strict conditions and monitoring even after his release from prison, with authorities able to recall him to custody if he breaches those terms.
The case serves as a stark warning that distributing terrorist propaganda carries serious criminal consequences, with courts taking a firm stance on those who spread ideologies designed to incite violence and hatred.
Bellil’s swift arrest just days after moving into his Southampton flat demonstrates the capabilities of UK counter-terrorism units in identifying and apprehending suspects before they can potentially progress from online activity to physical acts of terrorism.
The Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command continues to monitor online spaces for extremist content and encourages the public to report any suspicious material they encounter to enable early intervention.
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