A RADICAL supporter of so-called Islamic State had expressed ambitions for a terrorist attack targeting the 'Cheshire Show' before his arrest last summer.

Rabar Mala, from Longford in Warrington, had sent messages to fellow Isis supporters saying he was ‘itchy for operation’ last June.

Last week, the 32-year-old was sentenced to eight years in prison for his part in the Isis ‘propaganda machine’, after he was found providing Sim cards to radical jihadists who would encourage others to ‘commit acts of terrorism in the land of the non-believers’.

He used an encrypted messaging service to communicate with Isis supporters.

An account traced to Mala sent messages on May 24, discussing the Manchester Arena terror attack where 22 people were killed.

He said: “But the brother who carried out the operation in Manchester may Allah’s accept it from him – he renewed the job for me.”

During another conversation on June 10, Mala told another supporter how he was ‘itchy for operation’.

He said: “It is the biggest show in Britain – about half a million people will attend the show.

“There is everything in it – cars in every type – lorry, trailer, horse, food, house, and window on for BKC (semi-automatic machine gun) and hand grenade – it will start tomorrow.

“The name of the show is Cheshire Show.

“I have about seven tickets – it only needs people and weapon – believe it will be hunt for crusaders (Christians).”

He was described by an Isis supporter – jailed for 14 years for engaging in violent pro-jihadist material – as a ‘trusted man of the state’. The prosecution argued he was a ‘key media operative’ in translating material.

The court heard how Iraqi-born Mala ‘effectively worked as the IT department for people located in Syria and Iraq who needed social media accounts in order to distribute Isis material, gather support and communicate’.

Mala – who also used the name Colin – had been living in the UK illegally since 2008, washing cars during the day using his brother’s identity. He was arrested in August 2017 after armed police raided his house.

Officers seized mobile phones and 360 Sim cards – 141 with handwritten names on the back. In social media accounts created thanks to Mala’s work, media such as propaganda videos and terrorist attack instructions were shared.

Handing down the sentence, Judge Field dismissed the defence’s claims that Mala was a misguided individual.

Judge Field said: “It all sounds very simple but the significance of what you did must not be underestimated. Islamic State is an organisation that thrives on publicity and propaganda.”

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