Expelled student jailed for University of Reading bomb hoaxes

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 12:32 · Archive

Muzammil Ayyaz, expelled from the University of Reading, has been jailed for two years after making false bomb threats.

Muzammil Ayyaz, 31, from Feltham, London, has been jailed for two years after being found guilty of bomb hoaxes at the University of Reading. He was found guilty by unanimous jury of two counts of communicating false information about bombs following a trial at Reading Crown Court.

Ayyaz was expelled from the university in March 2023. Between June and September that year, he made more than 800 calls to the university across 17 different days, making threats and using violent language. Disguising his voice and withholding his phone number on these calls, he targeted the institution repeatedly.

In September 2023, Ayyaz made false bomb claims on two days. On 15 and 19 September, he called the university saying bombs had been planted in the law faculty building at Foxhill House, the library and the chancellor's office. These calls triggered emergency responses and forced evacuations of buildings. Emergency services attended but found no bombs.

Ayyaz was sentenced on 10 September and received a five-year restraining order preventing him from contacting University of Reading staff or attending any of its campuses. Thames Valley Police said the hoaxes caused significant disruption, though staff responded with what the force described as 'courage and resilience'.

How it is being reported

• Expelled university student jailed for bomb hoaxesMuzammil Ayyaz made more than 800 calls to the university after he was expelled in 2023.BBC Berkshire · 15 Oct, 12:00
• Expelled student with ‘vendetta’ against Reading University jailed for bomb hoaxesUniversity of Reading student Muzammil Ayyaz jailed for two years over bomb hoaxes, evacuations and 800+ threatening calls to staff following trial.Reading Chronicle · 14 Oct, 16:13

In this story: Muzammil Ayyaz · University of Reading · Feltham · Reading Crown Court · Thames Valley Police

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