Trainee Pharmacist sentenced after anti-Semitic social media post

A man who was training to be a pharmacist in Manchester has been sentenced after sending a grossly offensive message on social media to an Israel Society at a London university.

On 7 October 2023, the Israel Society posted a statement on social media condemning the events taking place in Israel and Gaza.

On the same day, Mohammad Al Accad, 24, sent a threatening reply to the Israel Society’s statement.

Following a police investigation, Al Accad, who was identified from his social media account, was arrested.

In his police interview Al Accad admitted sending the message in the heat of the moment as he had been personally affected by recent events.

He went on to plead not guilty on the basis the message wasn’t threatening or grossly offensive.

On 20 January 2025, Al Accad pleaded guilty to sending a grossly offensive communication.

On the same date he was sentenced to a £675 fine, which had been uplifted due to the hate aspect of the offence. He was also asked to pay £85 towards prosecution costs and a £270 victim surcharge.

Jade Coleman, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: “Mohammad Al Accad sent a hateful antisemitic social media message to the Israel Society.

“Although he admitted the words he had used, he initially disputed they were threatening or grossly offensive. He later pleaded guilty to sending a grossly offensive communication.

“There is no place for hate in our society and we will continue to work with our criminal justice partners to bring those who commit such offences to justice.”