Mohammed Hijab suggests UK counter-terror police tried to recruit him as informant - Middle East Eye
Prominent British YouTuber Mohammed Hijab has claimed that counter-terrorism police tried to recruit him as an informant after seizing his devices.
Hijab, whose legal name is Mohamed Hegab, describes himself as a philosopher of religion pursuing a PhD in the subject at the University of Birmingham.
He has more than a million subscribers on YouTube and frequently takes parts in debates on religion, as well as political issues.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Hijab said: "I want this on the record.
"In May, counter terrorism police stopped me without explanation, seized my devices and read more than ten thousand messages. My phone came back on 11 September. No further questions."
Hijab added: "Their notes, disclosed through my subject access request. One line reads 'Doesn’t want to be an informant.'"
He posted a screenshot of a page marked "REDACTED EXCERPT - Unrelated content removed" which has the Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) logo on it and the heading: "Examining Officer's Notes - Continued".
All the notes in the screenshot are redacted apart from a handwritten line which says: "Doesnt want to be an informant."
It is unclear whether the entire document was redacted by the police, or whether Hijab blacked it out himself to protect sensitive information.
I want this on the record. In May, counter terrorism police stopped me without explanation, seized my devices and read more than ten thousand messages. My phone came back on 11 September. No further questions. Their notes, disclosed through my subject access request. One line reads “Doesn’t want to be an informant.”
Hijab shared a second screenshot of a letter purportedly from "Gatwick Borders Team", referring to Gatwick airport, which is part of Counter Terrorism Policing South East.
The letter, dated 18 May, says: "Further to your examination under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act which was conducted at Gatwick airport on the 12th May 2025, I am writing to inform you of a change in power used to retain the property that was seized from you."
Two paragraphs below it are redacted. The letter then reads: "This does not necessarily mean you are currently under criminal investigation.
"We will endeavour to return your items to you at the earliest opportunity."
MEE contacted CTP London for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 gives the police the power to detain and question people at airports without needing prior grounds to suspect them of terrorism.
Hijab said in a recent YouTube video: "I was recently called in for a police interview under caution. I wasn't arrested but it was a criminal investigation and still is one. And it's one that relates to, I would call it, obviously from my perspective, activism.
"The questions were essentially questions that were for the most part related to anti-Israeli activism, actually."
He said he believed Israel was trying to "interfere" with him. Hijab did not provide evidence for these claims.
Hijab has participated in public debates on Israel, including on broadcaster Piers Morgan's show.
He recently debated Jonathan Conricus, a former international spokesperson for the Israeli military, on Morgan's show.
