Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Friday 11th April 2025 at 17:10hrs
A 35-year-old man from Small Heath, Birmingham, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years for planning a terrorist attack targeting a mosque and a bookshop in the city.
Jason Savage, of Fourth Avenue, was convicted earlier this year at Birmingham Crown Court following a trial.
The court heard how Savage, who converted to Islam in the 2010s and adopted an extreme interpretation of the Salafi movement, had been researching and planning an attack between March 2022 and his arrest in March 2024.
Prosecutors revealed that Savage had specifically targeted a Salafi cleric associated with the mosque and bookstore in Small Heath.
The cleric was known for his vocal criticism of Islamist terrorism and extremism, views that directly contradicted Savage’s own.
Key evidence presented to the jury included a reconnaissance video recorded by Savage just three days before his arrest.
The video showed him surveying the targeted location, discussing potential entry points, likely police arrival routes, and escape plans.
Further investigation revealed that Savage had also consumed violent and extremist online content, researched methods of killing with a knife, and sought information on constructing gun parts and ammunition.
He had also conducted reconnaissance on military buildings and police stations as potential alternative targets.
In the days leading up to his arrest, Savage changed his WhatsApp profile to ‘Lone Wolf’, strongly indicating his intention to carry out an attack independently.
On the day of his arrest, March 14, 2024, his communications became increasingly alarming. In a voice note sent to a contact, he declared he would “see him in paradise,” expressing his belief that he would not survive his planned actions.
Unbeknownst to Savage, the individual he was communicating with was an undercover police officer. This concerning message prompted immediate action, leading to Savage’s arrest on a Birmingham street hours later.
He was subsequently charged on March 21 with Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism.
A knife, which had been adapted by removing the handle and wrapping it with cloth, was recovered from his residence.
Detective Chief Superintendent Alison Hurst, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands, commended the swift action of her officers.
“While many arrests of terrorism suspects are pre-planned, the arrest of Savage was conducted in a street during an evening due to our escalating concerns about his behaviour,” she stated.
“Thanks to these quick actions to protect the public, there is no doubt that we stopped a dangerous individual carrying out an attack that would have caused injuries and potentially also fatalities.”
Today, at Birmingham Crown Court, Jason Savage was handed a life sentence and ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years in prison for his planned acts of terrorism.
G2K INCIDENT WATCH 