Hammaad Munshi, a British schoolboy who was only 16 years old at the time of his arrest, was sentenced to two years in jail on Friday, making him the youngest Briton to be convicted of a terror offense.
Munshi, who is now 18 years old, was arrested on his way home from school after Al-Qaeda-related information was found in his room and on his computer. Included in the documents were instructions on making napalm and homemade explosives, practical guides on making poisons and suicide vests, and tips on smuggling a sword through airport security.
Prosecutors charged Munshi along with his mentor Aabid Hussain Khan, with participating in a worldwide plot to target non-Muslims. Munshi, who is the grandson of the president of the Islamic Research Institute of Great Britain, will serve his time in a juvenile detention center.
Judge Timothy Pontius said Munshi shamed his family and his religion through his actions, but gave him a lighter sentence because he said Munshi fell "under the spell of fanatical extremists," but also said Munshi knew what he was doing when he partnered with Al-Qaeda.