LONDON (Reuters)
A Moroccan woman who hid a computer memory stick in her burka containing thousands of files on making explosives, was sentenced to two years in jail on Monday after pleading guilty to possessing material likely to be useful to terrorists.
Houria Chentouf, 41, from Manchester, admitted two offences of owning an article "connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism."
But the mother-of-six walked free from Manchester Crown Court after having served time on remand following her arrest, the Press Association reported.
The court heard how the memory stick contained more than 7,000 files, including an explosives manual for the "Brothers of the Mujahideen."
It was described by police as "a mini encyclopedia of weapons making."
Prosecutors said the Moroccan accidentally dropped the computer stick while she was being interviewed by officers at Liverpool's John Lennon Airport in October of last year.
It had been tied to the inner sleeve of her burka, but fell out as she reached down to scratch her leg, prosecutor Simon Denison told the court.
Another document contained information about the military use of electronics.
Police said the files, some of which ran to 900 pages, would have been enough to fill two floors of the Marks & Spencer store in Manchester.
Evidence was also uncovered from internet chatroom sites which indicated her support for those seeking martyrdom. |
