A High Wycombe terror suspect who was accused of planning to emulate the Lee Rigby murder by beheading a volunteer selling poppies on Remembrance Sunday has been cleared.

Yousaf Syed, of West Wycombe Road, was arrested following a police raid in the town just days before the annual Remembrance commemorations in 2014, but has now been found not guilty more than 18 months later.

The 20-year-old – who named his cat 7/7 in honour of the suicide bombers who targeted London – was cleared yesterday during a court case which can only now be reported on.

However, Yousaf’s cousin, Nadir Syed, who was arrested at the same time, now faces a life sentence on June 23 after he was found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts in December last year.

The prosecution claimed that the two men shared gruesome ISIS propaganda glorifying the beheading of westerners and stocked up on blades, including a huge 'Rambo' hunting knife.

They were arrested just days before Poppy Day after discussing the alleged atrocity for months on encrypted messaging app Telegram.

Following a retrial at the Old Bailey, Yousaf crouched to the ground in prayer, then smiled as he was acquitted of the same offence as his cousin when the verdict of almost 19 hours of jury deliberations was delivered.

Yousaf Syed has now been cleared of preparation of terrorist acts between September 20 and November 7, 2014.

  • Nadir Syed, 23, of Ambassador Close, Hounslow, was convicted of the same offence at the first trial in December.