Non-Muslim boy, 17, planned terror attack on Justin Bieber concert in UK, in name of Islamic State

Youth wrote martyrdom letter proclaiming himself a ‘soldier of Islamic State’ – even though he was a ham-eating non-Muslim

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A concert in Cardiff, Wales, by pop star Justin Bieber – seen here performing elsewhere – was the intended target of a teenager inspired by Islamic State, a UK court has heard. Photo: AP

Published: 2:35pm, 28 Nov 2017Updated: 2:43pm, 28 Nov 2017

A British teenager has been found guilty of planning an Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack on a pop concert a month after the Manchester Arena bombing.

The 17-year-old, who is of white British heritage, researched security surrounding the Justin Bieber concert in Cardiff and wrote a “martyrdom letter”.

Fearing he was about to strike, police raided the boy’s home in the south Wales valleys on the day of the show and found a claw hammer and a gutting knife in his school rucksack.

The suicide note read: “I am a soldier of Islamic State. I have attacked Cardiff today because your government keep on bombing targets in Syria and Iraq. There will be more attacks in the future.”

Jurors were told the boy had also written a note with bullet points including “run down the non-believers with a car” and “strike the infidels who oppose Allah in the neck”.

People gather to see flowers and messages of support in St Ann's Square in Manchester, northwest England, on May 25, placed in tribute to the victims of the May 22 terror attack at the Manchester Arena. Photo: Agence France-Presse

I am a soldier of Islamic State. I have attacked Cardiff today because your government keep on bombing targets in Syria and Iraq

Suicide note found at convicted teen’s home

The defendant, from Rhondda Cynon Taff, denied preparing for an act of terrorism, two charges of encouraging terrorism online and two charges of possessing editions of an Isis propaganda magazine.