A man accused of spreading terrorist propaganda and attempting to radicalise people across Europe has been sentenced to ten years in prison in Malta's first conviction for online terrorism recruitment.

Thirty-three-year-old Mouhamadou Dosso, an Ivorian national with Italian residency, pleaded guilty to terrorism offences after police traced extremist content and communications to his online accounts.

The investigation began in April 2024 after a Facebook profile sharing radical Islamist material was flagged to the authorities. Weeks of surveillance led police to identify Dosso as the person behind the account.

A raid on his Ħamrun residence on 31 October 2024 resulted in the seizure of five mobile phones. Forensic analysis revealed that Dosso had been contacting individuals across Europe, urging them to join the "jihad" and carry out terrorist attacks.

Inspector Mohammed Shurrab, who led the investigation, told the court that Dosso targeted vulnerable individuals, including asylum seekers and socially isolated people, promising them paradise if they died in a suicide mission.

"We are recruiting volunteers for jihad. If you die in this fight, you will go to heaven," read one of the messages recovered by police.

Investigators also uncovered photos of explosives, ISIS propaganda videos, and anti-Western imagery, including depictions of crossed-out American, French, and Israeli flags. Among the files was a photo of one of the 9/11 hijackers.

Dosso admitted to the charges in July 2025, before the Bill of Indictment was issued. A joint submission by the Attorney General's Office and the defence proposed a ten-year prison term, which the Criminal Court accepted.

In sentencing, the court emphasised the gravity of the offences and the disturbing quantity of extremist material found in Dosso's possession. It noted that although his guilty plea came after proceedings had begun, it was still entered before the prosecution closed its evidence.

The court ordered the confiscation of all devices used in the crimes and directed police to request the removal of the terror-related content from online platforms. Dosso was also ordered to pay €9,631.16 in court expenses within a year.

The prosecution was represented by AG lawyers Mauro Abela and Dejan Darmanin, while lawyer Nicholas Mifsud appeared for the defence. The case was presided over by Judge Natasha Galea Scibberras.