Dudley TikToker Appears in Court Over Terrorism Allegations
A man from Dudley has made an appearance at the Old Bailey, facing serious charges related to the alleged distribution of terrorist content on TikTok. Sardar Shahid, aged 20, is accused of posting videos and images depicting terrorist attacks, which prosecutors claim were intended to encourage terrorism.
Charges and Alleged Evidence
Shahid has been charged with four counts of distributing a terrorist publication between December 2024 and February 2025. Additionally, he faces a charge of possessing a document containing information useful to terrorism. According to prosecutor Chloe Ashley, the material shared on TikTok included images of perpetrators from well-known attacks, allegedly aimed at promoting terrorist activities.
During the investigation, authorities uncovered a document titled the Islamic Terrorist Explosive Manual Translation on a USB stick following Shahid's arrest in November 2025. This manual, spanning 159 pages, reportedly provides detailed instructions on the manufacture of high explosives, adding a grave dimension to the case.
Court Proceedings and Future Hearings
The preliminary hearing took place today, Friday, February 27, with Shahid appearing via video link from HMP Brinsford in Staffordshire. He spoke only to confirm his identity during the session. The court has scheduled a plea hearing for July 3, and a provisional two-week trial is set to begin on March 15 next year at Birmingham Crown Court.
Following the hearing, Shahid was remanded into custody, as the legal process continues to unfold. This case highlights ongoing concerns about the misuse of social media platforms for disseminating extremist content and the legal repercussions for such actions.
