By Tony O’Reilly-
A gym instructor who adopted the chilling moniker “Anglo Jihadi” has been found guilty of planning a devastating bomb and chemical attack against a large shopping centre.
Jordan Richardson, 21, a Muslim convert from Howden, East Yorkshire, was convicted after investigators discovered a chilling recipe for mustard gas inside his backpack. This chemical warfare blister agent, potentially fatal if inhaled, represented a clear escalation in his violent ambitions. Furthermore, police found he possessed a direct link to an ISIS bomb-making video, the same instructional material notoriously used by the Manchester Arena bomber for creating the highly unstable TATP explosive.
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Richardson, who used the name Abu Bakr al Aziz online, was arrested on 19 December last year while traveling to his job in nearby Goole. His detention marked the culmination of an intensive investigation by Counter-Terrorism Policing North East. The young man was ultimately found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism, reflecting his methodical actions to acquire weapons, research explosive substances, and scout potential targets. He received further guilty verdicts for three counts of encouraging terrorism and two counts of possessing materials useful for terrorism.
The court established that Richardson’s dangerous ideology transitioned from online rhetoric into actionable, real-world plotting. His sentencing, scheduled for next month, represents a significant success for counter-terrorism forces in disrupting a complex and deeply violent plot. The conviction underscores the persistent danger posed by self-radicalized individuals operating domestically, moving from extremist internet content to physical preparations for mass violence.
The most damning evidence presented during the trial were the handwritten notes recovered from Richardson’s rucksack at the time of his arrest. These pieces of notepaper detailed a gruesome, multi-stage attack plan targeting innocent civilians.
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A note belonging to Jordan Richardson. Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East/PA
One note provided a sequence of actions: “Reach hidden vantage point, apply gas mask, outfit, load crossbow, throw all grenades into crowd, shoot bystanders, stab anyone who come close, do not get taken alive.” This chilling instruction set confirmed Richardson’s intent to inflict maximum casualties and sacrifice himself as a ‘martyr.’
A crossbow found at Richardson’s home. Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East/PA
Crossbow bolts seized at his home. Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East/PA
A second, equally disturbing note contained the full ingredients and detailed instructions for synthesizing mustard gas. This chemical agent causes severe blisters, internal organ damage, and can easily prove fatal if victims inhale it. The combination of bomb-making research, chemical weapon instructions, and detailed attack plans clearly indicated Richardson had moved far beyond mere fantasy.
When police searched his flat, they uncovered further material evidence, including a combat knife stored in a sheath and a crossbow purchased from an online store called SuperGuns UK. They also seized multiple crossbow bolts, demonstrating he possessed the actual means to execute the brutal attack outlined in his handwritten notes.
Crossbow bolts found at Richardson’s home. Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East/PA
Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East/PA
Prosecutor Katherine Robinson detailed Richardson’s proactive suggestions for an attack on the Meadowhall shopping centre near Sheffield, one of the largest retail complexes in the United Kingdom. He even shared a video of the massive complex with a graphic overlay reading: “How life feels when you finally give up and just start killing people brutally.” Richardson had saved screenshots of the TATP bomb recipe on his iPhone and looked up the required ingredients, including hydrogen peroxide. These comprehensive preparatory actions led directly to his robust Jihadi Attack Planner Conviction.
Jordan Richardson’s path to extremism involved a rapid descent into violent ideology, largely fuelled by self-radicalization through online content. He converted to Islam the day after Ramadan in April of the previous year, with his initial interest quickly transforming into a dangerous fixation on violent extremism. He utilized social media platforms, including Telegram and Instagram, operating accounts first in his own name before adopting the alias “Anglo Jihadi.” The court heard extensive evidence of his online rhetoric, where he openly declared himself a supporter of the Islamic State (ISIS) and boasted of his desire to conduct jihad and kill individuals he referred to as “infidels.”
In one disturbing message, Richardson wrote: “Inshallah, I pray to be a jihad and to be martyred for Allah.” His virulent hatred extended to specific groups. Katherine Robinson told the jury that “one of the features of the defendant’s mindset was that he regularly expressed a wish to kill Jews.” He also expressed intense homophobic views, labelling LGBTQ people as a “cancer on the country” and sharing ISIS videos that directly threatened the gay community.
Richardson joined the extremist group ISIS online, widely sharing material that actively encouraged terrorist activity and offering advice on how others could get involved. He spoke about his desire to establish the caliphate and live under Sharia law, often sharing ISIS videos featuring extreme violence, including beheadings. Furthermore, he discussed manufacturing weapons, exploring methods for making 3D printed firearms and even detailing how to construct the metal parts using only simple hand tools.
In a chilling admission, Richardson, while on remand awaiting trial, revealed to a prison officer that he wanted to study to become a high school teacher specifically so that he could radicalise children. Failing that, he planned to travel abroad to fight, contacting a Syrian fighter on Telegram and discussing destinations like “Palestine, Syria and Iraq.”
The successful prosecution of Jordan Richardson highlights the continuous, difficult battle against online extremism and domestic terror threats. Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, who heads Counter-Terrorism Policing North East, emphasized the gravity of the case. “Jordan Richardson was preparing to conduct an attack on members of the public, and to become a martyr to others who share his ideology,” he stated. He stressed that this case reveals the “real-world threat that terrorist content online poses” and demonstrates how quickly individuals viewing this material can become fully radicalized.
Jordan Richardson has been found guilty of planning a terror attack. Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East/PA
Richardson wearing a balaclava. Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East/PA
Bethan David, representing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), confirmed Richardson was a “dangerous individual” intent on “causing violence in the name of his ideology.”
Richardson’s Jihadi Attack Planner Conviction serves as a vital reminder that security services must constantly monitor and intervene when online radicalization transitions into tangible plotting. His plot, involving both explosive and chemical components alongside medieval weaponry like a crossbow, demanded immediate disruption before he could realize his violent fantasies.
The fact he possessed a link to the TATP bomb-making video, utilized in the devastating Manchester Arena attack, underscores the direct link between extremist propaganda and domestic security threats. Authorities encourage members of the public to report any suspicious behavior or signs of radicalization through official channels. The threat posed by self-radicalized individuals often requires vigilance from communities, friends, and family. The authorities will provide more details when Richardson faces sentencing next month; this outcome sends a clear message about the consequences for those planning violent acts.
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