Teen extremist who planned London terror attack gets life sentence

Matthew King appeared at the Old Bailey for sentencing today (June 2) after he pleaded guilty to preparation of terrorist acts. 

The 19-year-old staked out a British Army barracks in Stratford and expressed a desire to “torture, mutilate and kill military personnel”, Prosecutor Paul Jarvis said.  

Other targets which he scoped out for his potential knife attack included Stratford police station, train station and magistrates’ court.  

After filming police officers outside the court he posted a photo of them on Snapchat with the caption “target acquired”.

The teen, from Wickford in Essex, found his faith when he was aged 16 after he left education without any qualifications, having dabbled in drugs and been expelled from school, Mr Jarvis said.  

King asked his mum to take him to a mosque and began watching videos about Islam, wearing traditional Islamic clothing and learning Arabic.   

The court heard that Islam initially had a positive effect on his life, but soon his behaviour became more extreme as he called his sisters ‘slags’ for not dressing modestly.   

He also spoke about Islam constantly and told his mum he wanted to go to Syria with a girl from the UK who he had been talking to online.  

“Mr King showed his mother videos on Instagram, some of which concerned her. One of those videos showed Muslims on horseback riding into battle overlaid with what Mr King’s mother described as motivational chanting,” Mr Jarvis said.   

King told his mum he did not believe in terrorism but she was so concerned about him that she contacted Prevent. This culminated in him being arrested.  

A police investigation found that on December 22, 2021, he had registered as a customer of Knife Warehouse and searched ‘Isis knife tactical training’ and ‘Isis knife tactical training video’. 

He never purchased a knife but bought tactical combat clothing, gloves and glasses. 

King’s phone was full of violent messages, including discussions with his online girlfriend in which he said he wanted to “get his hands on” an American or British marine.  

His girlfriend, who was also based in the UK, was very supportive of this and described in gruesome detail how King should murder a member of the army. 

King described how he wanted to get two marines in a room and force them to rape each other.

Matthew King also expressed a desire to travel to Syria (Image: Metropolitan Police)

He had also posted a video in a WhatsApp group of a man holding a knife with the words “those who said that there is no jihad and no battle. They are lying!” and also set his WhatsApp status to “Kill the non-Muslims, wherever you see them”.   

Videos on his phone revealed that he had actively gone out to scope possible locations for his potential attack, and had taken videos of police officers who were potential targets.

King was taking lessons from Imams with extreme views in both USA and Green Street in Newham, Mr Jarvis said.  

As his behaviour became more extreme King was expelled from one mosque, while other Muslims warned him about his behaviour.  

On May 18, 2022, police forced entry into his home and he was arrested in his bedroom.

After being arrested and cautioned, King responded: “I don’t believe in the UK law, the only law I believe in is the law of Allah.”   

While speaking to police officers he said he did not believe in the word terrorism, and described the West as the biggest terrorists.

King said that if “they” kill “our” innocent women in Syria then the same should be done to “them”.

When police asked him if he went to school he told them he had been kicked out “for allegedly holding  a knife up to a girl’s throat”.

While King was in custody a police officer overheard King telling his mum over the phone: “I need to start training if I go to prison, I’m going to find someone in prison to train me. I need to start to eat more protein. I need to start training offensive and defensive.   

“When I get out I am going to be offensive, I’m going to be a machine. I don’t care, in my eyes I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m not guilty but I might plead guilty because I will get 30 per cent off my sentence.   

“Allah says he will punish the oppressors, everywhere will be Sharia law one day. When I get out, they will be controlling me, they probably won’t let me have a driving licence because I’ll probably run people over.”   

While in prison King has been heard to threaten that he would behead an imam, the court heard.

In mitigation, defence counsel Hossein Zahir said King was just 18 when he was arrested and had exhibited a “striking level of immaturity”. 

“This behaviour appears to have peaked during lockdown and pandemic, and was likely an outcome of isolation,” he said. 

The offences for which Matthew King was sentenced took place over a six month period from 2021 to 2022 (Image: Metropolitan Police)

“He was interested in Islam. His family saw an improvement in his behaviour but in the absence of guidance he became lost in the chaos of online discussion about religion,” Mr Zahir said. 

He argued that there was little chance of King’s terrorist act ever being carried out. 

While acknowledging that when King entered prison in June 2022 he was an extremist, Mr Zahir said: “He is remarkably candid, open and honest. And [prison officials] take the view that there has been a change in the time he has been in custody.” 

Mr Zahir argued that he is on a path away from an entrenched extremist view to a more nuanced position where he is willing to engage with other views. 

King’s mum told the court that his family are supporting him through prison. She also said he has expressed his regret to her and that he is on the path to deradicalisation. 

Judge Mark Lucraft, the Recorder of London, said that King poses a danger to the public. 

He said: “I am of the view that there must be a discretionary life sentence in this case and that is the sentence I will impose upon you.

“There will be a sentence of custody for life. The risks around you, albeit as a young man, are clear and concerning.

“The way in which you say some things to professionals and yet say the contrary to others means that there is no clear picture of when those risks may abate. That position supports the decision on dangerousness to custody for life.”

He sentenced King to life imprisonment with a minimum term of six years. 

The judge added: “When it comes to the minimum term that you will serve, I make plain that I am not ordering that you are to be released at the end of it.

“Whether you will be released or not at that stage or at any later stage will be a matter for the Parole Board to consider.

“Only when the minimum term has been served can the Parole Board decide whether it is safe to release you or not. If the Board does release you, then you will remain on licence and liable to recall for the rest of your life.”