A Muslim convert, 19-year-old Matthew King, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for planning a terrorist attack on British police officers and soldiers after being radicalized online during the pandemic.

King expressed his desire to kill military personnel and made preparations to carry out an attack near a British Army barracks in Stratford, London.

He discussed his plans with an online girlfriend, sharing violent fantasies. However, his mother reported him to the Prevent counter-terrorism program, and authorities were alerted through an anti-terrorism hotline.

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While in custody, King made threats of violence towards an imam and prison staff. He pleaded guilty to preparing terrorist acts and was handed a discretionary life sentence with a minimum term of six years.

The judge commended King’s mother for reporting her concerns, emphasizing that she did the right thing. The judge also recognized King as a dangerous offender with a continued risk to the public.

Despite claims of de-radicalization, the judge noted that an attack on a police officer was more likely to occur than King joining ISIS in Syria.

The defense argued that King was immature and slowly disengaging from extremism. Scotland Yard described King as a committed, self-initiated terrorist who self-radicalized online.

The Met’s counter-terrorism commander stated that without public assistance and effective investigation, an imminent attack would not have been disrupted.