A Muslim convert has been found guilty of planning an attack against a mosque and a bookshop in Birmingham.
Jason Savage, aged 35 from Small Heath, was convicted following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday.
The jury heard how Savage – since March 2022 and up until his arrest in March 2024 – had researched and planned to carry out an attack on the Salafi Bookstore and Islamic Centre.
Savage, who had denied all charges, had converted to Islam in the 2010s and, according to the authorities, “followed an extreme and violent interpretation of the Salafi movement.”
Prosecutors told the court that Savage had targeted a Salafi cleric associated with a mosque and bookstore in Small Heath because the cleric was an “outspoken critic of Islamist terrorism and extremism” contrary to Savage’s views.
The jury were shown what was described as a reconnaissance video which was made by Savage three days before his arrest. It shows him walking round the location of the mosque and bookstore, discussing points of entry, the routes that the police would likely attend from and escape routes.
Savage also downloaded and watched violent and extremist videos, researched how to kill with a knife and how to make parts of a gun and ammunition as well as carrying out the reconnaissance of military buildings and police stations as potential locations.
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Days before his arrest, Savage changed his Whatsapp profile to “Lone Wolf,” indicating he was planning to carry out an incident on his own.
On the day of his arrest (March 14, 2024), Savage’s messaging and intentions increased. In a voice note to his friend he exclaimed he would “see him in paradise” as he believed the activity he was planning would result in him not surviving.
Savage was unaware that the “friend” he had shared messages with was actually an undercover police officer. As a result of the concerning message, officers arrested Savage hours later in a Birmingham street.
He was charged on March 21 with Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism.
A knife was recovered from his address which he had adapted by removing the handle and wrapping with cloth.
Head of Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands, Detective Chief Superintendent Alison Hurst said: “Many arrests that are carried out for terrorism suspects are pre-planned, however the arrest of Savage was one conducted in a street during an evening as we had become increasingly concerned around his behaviour.
“Thanks to these quick actions to protect the public, there is no doubt that we stopped a dangerous individual carrying out an attack that would have caused injuries and potentially also fatalities.”
Savage is due to be sentenced on April 4.
