Muslim convert planned attack on mosque, trial hears

A Muslim convert threatened to “flatten” a mosque, plotted to attack an Islamic cleric who was an outspoken critic of terrorism and researched potential military and police targets, a jury heard.

Jason Savage, 35, from Small Heath, Birmingham, denies a single count of engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts on or before 14 March 2024.

Birmingham Crown Court heard Mr Savage had taken screenshots of the West Midlands Police headquarters, police stations in Perry Barr and Stechford and Birmingham military locations.

Prosecutor Peter Ratliff alleged the defendant had planned to commit and film an attack.

He said Mr Savage converted to Islam in the 2010s and followed an “extreme and violent” part of the Salafi movement.

Prosecutors allege the defendant carried out reconnaissance with a view to attacking an Islamic cleric, bookstore and mosque in the Small Heath area, whose approach to the Salafi movement was “entirely at odds” with his own.

Taking the jury through social media posts and other messages alleged to have been written by Mr Savage, Mr Ratliff said: “One of those he was in contact with was, although he didn’t know it, an undercover officer.

“A key feature of the defendant’s words and writings was his real disapproval of ‘disbelievers’ – but particularly those he considered were false followers of Islam.”

By February 2024, the court heard, Mr Savage was referring to watching knife-fighting techniques on YouTube, and posted a video of Osama Bin Laden.

Mr Ratliff said the defendant referred to how a mosque, outside of which he is accused of filming, needed “flattening” and spoke about how his alleged targets were to be “hunted down”.

On 11 March, Mr Savage is said to have gone to the mosque and bookstore and recorded mobile phone videos, speaking of “the best way to get away from” the area and the direction that “police will probably come from”.

The jury heard the defendant made internet searches about homemade firearms and ammunition, including pipe guns, nail guns, firing pin mechanisms and shell casings.

The charge against Mr Savage alleges his conduct included research into the manufacture of components of firearms and the “lethal use of knives”.

Alleged preparation is also said to have included “reconnaissance of a potential attack location” at the mosque and “research of potential targets, including members of the military and West Midlands police force”.

The trial continues.