Terror alert raised at football stadiums following TikTok threats by Mohammed Mahfuz Ahmed, who is now imprisoned
In a significant conviction, Mohammed Mahfuz Ahmed, a 25-year-old resident of Cleethorpes, has been jailed for disseminating terrorist material and encouraging terrorism. The case, which has raised concerns about the use of social media for terrorist propaganda and threats, was heard in Sheffield Crown Court in February 2025.
Ahmed, who had an extensive following on TikTok, was found guilty of four counts of disseminating terrorist material and one count of encouraging terrorism. The material he shared, which included Islamic State propaganda, was disseminated between the hours of 10pm and 4am using five separate accounts, amassing over 1,300 followers.
The prosecuting authorities highlighted Ahmed's threats related to Champions League football matches, which were prominently featured in their characterisation of the case. One of the images posted by Ahmed showed the Emirates Stadium in London, Parc des Princes in Paris, Santiago Bernabeu and Metropolitano Arena stadiums in Madrid. These stadiums were due to host UEFA Champions League football matches the next day.
Another image, linked to a media channel associated with ISIS, featured a gunman in a balaclava and the message: "Kill them all." This image was posted days after an attack at a concert in Moscow by individuals claiming allegiance to Islamic State.
The judge, Jeremy Richardson KC, found "utterly revolting scenes of cruelty and savagery relating to a variety of terrorist outrages" on Ahmed's computer. He expressed hope that the sentence, which included a 10-year jail term with an extended licence of five years, would serve as a deterrent to others.
The Spanish interior ministry announced an "extraordinary" security response for a match featuring Real Madrid and Manchester City in response to the threats. More than 3,500 police officers, four separate rings of security, and snipers were posted for the match. Despite the threats, there have been no reports of actual attempts to carry out attacks at any of the stadiums in connection with this case.
This case underscores the ongoing concerns about the use of online platforms for terrorist propaganda and threats. While the specific platform (e.g., TikTok) is not named in the most recent official summaries, the details of Ahmed's activities highlight the importance of monitoring and regulating such platforms to prevent the dissemination of terrorist content.
As of the latest available information, there have been no reports of any appeals, further developments, or additional charges since Ahmed's conviction in February 2025. For the most recent developments, future updates would be published by UK terrorism threat analysts or legal authorities.
Despite Ahmed's conviction for disseminating terrorist material and encouraging terrorism, there were also concerns raised about his threats related to sports, specifically Champions League football matches. Additionally, general-news outlets reported on the Spanish interior ministry's response to a match featuring Real Madrid and Manchester City, which involved increased security measures due to the threats that Ahmed had shared on TikTok.
