A Bolton man who downloaded recipes on how to make explosive devices onto a pen drive and wrote about jihad, has been jailed under anti-terror laws.
Asim Kauser, 26, of Bardon Close, Halliwell, Bolton, pleaded guilty to four offences under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 at an earlier hearing.
Kauser was found to be in possession of records of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
He has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square.
Kauser was arrested and charged following an operation by the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit.
Police first became involved when officers from Bolton were called to investigate a burglary that happened overnight between 1 and 2 June 2011 at Kauser's family home, in which the thieves stole a car.
Kauser's father gave police a USB stick which was thought to contain CCTV images of the burglary.
However, when it was examined it contained recipes on how to make explosive devices and poisons, anti-interrogation techniques and details on how to kill efficiently.
A further examination of the stick revealed a letter, addressed to an unknown recipient, in which the author - again anonymous but referring to himself as a 24-year-old man - seeks spiritual guidance and says he has prepared himself physically and financially for jihad.
Officers also recovered a list that contained prices in both pounds and rupees of a number of items, including an AK47 rifle, rounds of ammunition, a grenade launcher and other survival or combat material.
Forensic analysis of the pen drive revealed the material had been downloaded in the spring of 2010.
Explosive experts were consulted who confirmed the recipes on the stick were viable ways of making explosive devices.
Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Porter, head of the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit, said: "The materials we discovered on that pen drive were clear and viable instructions on how to make explosive devices.
"When you combine that with the letter and the 'shopping' list that was found in Kauser's bedroom which contained pricing details for guns, ammunition and other survival equipment it builds up a picture of his state of mind.
"This case has never been about proving an endgame and we may never know what his intentions were, but when you have significant evidence of how to make explosive devices and pricing lists for weapons, we had to act quickly.
"The North West Counter-Terrorism Unit has to act on any information or suggestion of terrorist activity - in situations like these there can be absolutely no delay.
"Throughout this investigation, we have worked with members of our community, who were understandably anxious to see this case resolved, to keep them informed and we would like to thank those people for their support.
"I also want to stress that this case is not about policing people's freedom to browse the Internet. The materials that were downloaded were not stumbled upon by chance - these had to be searched for and contained very dangerous information that could have led to an explosive device being built. That is why we had to take action.
"All forms of violent extremism present a threat to our communities and we all have a role to play in protecting them."
If you have any concerns about violent extremist activity within your community, please contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team or call the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.
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