Man who admitted terror charges guilty of arson

A man who previously admitted gathering material for terrorist acts has pleaded guilty to setting fire to two activity centres in Berkshire.

Ilyas Akhtar, 21, from Cress Road, Slough, admitted arson attacks at Slough Ice Arena on 14 May and Salt Hill Activity Centre in the town on 31 May.

He appeared at the Old Bailey by videolink from HMP Belmarsh on Friday and had been due to face trial at Woolwich Crown Court in October.

Akhtar previously admitted gathering parts to make a homemade bomb and visiting Victoria Barracks in Windsor to make an improvised explosive device between July 2024 and May 2025.

Prosecutor Julia Faure Walker said his additional guilty pleas would be accepted.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb ordered a pre-sentence report ahead of his sentencing on 27 April.

Previously the court heard how Akhtar accessed al-Qaeda material and bought knives and razor blades.

He also sought information online about weapons and poison, along with literature about explosive substances and the construction of improvised explosive devices.

Akhtar has also pleaded guilty to possession of terrorist information relating to a video entitled How To Make a Simple Detonator and arson relating to a fire at St Peter's Church in Slough last April.

He also pleaded guilty to making a bomb hoax by placing a package containing wires, screws, coins, batteries and phones at the Asda superstore in Telford Drive, Slough, on 9 May.

He was remanded into custody ahead of his sentencing.