Birmingham man sent videos 'glorifying martyrdom' to friend

A friend of an apprentice bricklayer convicted of terrorism-related offences sent him videos claiming fighters should "take pleasure" in dying for the so-called Islamic State, a court has heard.

Ali Zeb pleaded guilty last year to distributing terrorist material via WhatsApp to Humza Ali, who was later convicted of attempting to travel to Syria to join Isis.

Zeb, from Washwood Heath in Birmingham, admitted disseminating videos promoting Daesh while being reckless as to whether they would encourage terrorism.

Opening the facts of the case against Zeb, prosecutor Anne Whyte QC told the court that the student and his friend held similarly insulting views about "non-believers" and non-Muslims.

Among videos sent by Zeb to Ali in 2015 was a film showing multiple images of dead bodies "designed to encourage or glorify martyrdom" and another showing armed men travelling in a vehicle.

Ali, also 20 and from Bromford Lane, Ward End, Birmingham, was convicted by a jury in December of three counts of distributing terrorist publications and attempting to travel to Syria for terrorist purposes.

Both defendants will be sentenced on Tuesday.