Threat to “ruin prom” at centre of Old Bailey terrorism trial

Jurors at the Old Bailey have heard how a teenage Army cadet allegedly threatened to “ruin prom” after being rejected by a girl, in a case prosecutors say combines fixation, grievance and extremist ideology. The Old Bailey prom threat trial was told this week that the alleged behaviour prompted organisers to move the school event as a precaution.

Dihan Rahman, 19, from west London, denies six charges of possessing documents and videos likely to be useful to someone preparing or committing an act of terrorism. He has admitted stalking two girls and a female teacher.

The prosecution outlined offences under legislation designed to prevent the possession of material that could assist acts of terrorism, reflecting how courts interpret public safety obligations under the UK’s counter-terrorism framework, as set out in the Terrorism Act 2000.

Opening the prosecution case, Serena Gates KC said concerns about Rahman’s behaviour began in 2023 after he joined a new school and enrolled in an Army cadet programme. His conduct, jurors were told, intensified after his advances towards a 16-year-old girl were rejected.

Following that rejection, Rahman is alleged to have sent abusive messages and repeatedly attempted to contact the girl online. On Valentine’s Day 2024, the court heard, he sent a derogatory message and attempted to call her before she blocked him on WhatsApp.

Jurors were told the girl later noticed Rahman taking photographs of her and her friends and that he began repeatedly engaging with her social media accounts. Prosecutors said his conduct continued even after he was banned from the cadet base.

After that ban, Rahman allegedly posted messages on Snapchat and TikTok stating that he intended to “ruin prom”. One post is said to have included images of the venue alongside a photograph of a German Nazi soldier holding a firearm. Organisers subsequently decided to change the location of the event.

The trial also heard about a breakdown in Rahman’s friendship with another girl earlier in 2024, following comments he made about her weight on Snapchat. He was suspended from school for two days as a result.

A female teacher told jurors that she had previously regarded Rahman as socially awkward but unremarkable. Her view changed, she said, after concerns were raised that he had been photographing girls at school.

After confiscating Rahman’s phone, the teacher said she saw an image of him in his cadet uniform holding a noose. When she briefly left the room, she returned to find him deleting images from the device.

She later confiscated the phone again and told the court she saw a photograph of Rahman with a scarf covering his face, accompanied by the words: “Who’s in for a Valentines school shooting”.

Jurors were shown further images said to depict Rahman in military clothing, giving a Nazi salute and holding a green cord tied into a noose.

Rahman was arrested at his home on 15 March 2024 and released on police bail on condition that he stayed away from the girls involved. Prosecutors allege he breached those conditions.

He was arrested again in November 2025. An examination of his laptop is said to have revealed 83 online searches for the first girl during that month, after which he was remanded in custody.

Investigators also found documents posted online containing personal information about both girls, including details about their families and social media accounts, and describing them as a “danger to males”, the court was told.

Rahman is accused of possessing instructional material relating to bomb-making and improvised munitions. He admits having the material but says he did not know it contained information useful for terrorism and claims it was retained for research purposes.

The Old Bailey prom threat trial is continuing.

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