Man, 18, facing terror probe lunged at a detective during his police interview before putting him in a chokehold and yelling Allahu Akbar, court hears

A teenager assaulted a detective constable during a police interview and put him in a chokehold as he shouted Allahu Akbar, a court has heard.

Muhammad Zakir Arif, from Bury, Greater Manchester, lunged at the male officer as he was questioned on suspicion of being involved in terrorism offences.

The 18-year-old had been arrested a day earlier when he was stopped travelling in a taxi as a passenger and was found to be in possession of a Zombie-style knife and a machete in a rucksack.

Prosecutor Joe Allman told Manchester Crown Court that Arif put up a significant struggle when arrested as he kicked out at officers and shouted Allahu Akbar - meaning there is no God but Allah – as well as other words in Arabic.

The Architecture student went on to say: I would rather die than waste my life in here. I only had those in my bag because I like weapons, I wasnt going to do anything.

Do you want to know why youll all be getting bombed? Its like kicking a rabid dog with you bombing Iraq. After a while, the dog will bite back and that bite will be your bomb.

Architecture student Muhammad Zakir Arif (pictured), from Bury, Greater Manchester, lunged at the male officer as he was questioned on suspicion of being involved in terrorism offences

When interviewed the following day by counter-terrorism officers he said I just want to say one thing... and then spontaneously jumped from his chair, said Mr Allman.

Arif shouted Dawlat al Islam baqiyah, which translates as the Islamic State is remaining, and repeatedly punched the male detective to the head and body, the court was told.

The defendant was forced into a corner but managed to place the detective into a headlock and squeeze his neck before other officers rushed to the assistance of their colleague who was later sent home to recover from pain to his neck and shoulders.

Arif also refused to give police the access codes to two recovered iPhones which had been requested on grounds of national security.

He claimed uncovered images of his wife were on the devices but the Crown noted he was not in fact married.

Arif, of Harrington Close, was on bail at the time of his arrest after he was convicted months earlier of two robberies and an attempted robbery in January 2023.

One of the robberies against a 17-year-old boy was committed at knifepoint and filmed on mobile phone by an associate, the court was told.