Man who sparked fears of terrorist attack in Sunderland jailed

Staff at Barclays Bank, on Fawcett Street in Sunderland, raised concerns about Mabad at around 10am GMT on October 4, 2023, prosecutor Graham O’Sullivan said.

Mabad stood outside “screaming that he was a terrorist” and “screaming about Israel” – with a copy of the Quran on the ground next to a bottle, which was feared to contain explosives, Mr O’Sullivan said.

Mabad shouted at people as he filmed them on his phone, becoming increasingly aggressive as they filmed him back, the court heard.

The concerns led to a large-scale police response, with the deployment of armed officers, fire and ambulance crews and a helicopter.

People who saw Mabad were “shocked” and feared a major terrorist attack was imminent, O’Sullivan said.

Twelve days later, after being released on bail, he called police and told an associate he was going to “rape” him, King Charles and his ‘kingdom’, Mr O’Sullivan said.

Mabad, of Hume Street in Sunderland, ended the conversation with “boom” – raising fears he was planning a bomb attack, the court heard.

The police officer called the call “terrible” and among the worst abuse he had heard on the job.