Yaqub Younis

Yaqub Younis has been involved in several significant criminal cases and legal proceedings in the UK, including a recent bomb hoax incident, an Unexplained Wealth Order, and past convictions for murder-related charges and other offenses.

Sheffield Bomb Hoax Incident (February 2025 - July 2026)

In February 2025, Yaqub Younis, then 47, was involved in a 32-hour standoff with police at his flat on Broad Street, Sheffield, which led to the evacuation of approximately 80 residents from The Gateway apartment building. Police were called after reports that Younis was allegedly inside a property in possession of weapons and making violent threats. During the standoff, Younis claimed to have guns and explosives, and was seen throwing objects, including a flat-screen television, from his ninth-floor balcony. He also made claims of being watched by MI5 and being the victim of an attempted assassination, which prosecutors and the judge later dismissed as "complete fiction" and "a tissue of lies".

Younis was arrested on February 12, 2025, after armed police entered his flat, where he was apprehended using a taser and PAVA spray. No explosives or firearms were found, though he was discovered with several knives, including a meat cleaver.

He made his first appearance at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on February 14, 2025, charged with affray, bomb hoax (communicating false information), intentionally/recklessly causing a public nuisance, and criminal damage. He was remanded into custody and subsequently appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on March 14, 2025.

Younis pleaded not guilty to the charges, but was found guilty on all counts by a jury following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court on June 22, 2026. On July 2, 2026, Younis, then 49, was sentenced to a total of seven years in prison for the bomb hoax and related offenses. The judge, Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, highlighted the "exceptionally serious incident with massive economic and personal consequences for the citizens of the city of Sheffield". The incident caused significant disruption, including the closure of city centre roads and the suspension of the South Yorkshire Supertram.

Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) (June 2023)

On June 7, 2023, the National Crime Agency (NCA) obtained an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) against Yaqub Younis, a Birmingham man, and his company, Regal Capital UK Limited. Younis, who was 46 at the time, was "on the run" after being recalled to prison in February 2023 for breaching his licence. He and his company failed to comply with the UWO requirements, leading to a statutory presumption that the assets subject to the order may be recoverable property – a first in British legal history. On September 14, 2023, a High Court judge refused an application by Younis's son to vary the UWO. The NCA also secured a Property Freezing Order over 14 properties belonging to Younis, valued at £1.25 million, to prevent their sale or transfer while the investigation continues.

Previous Criminal History

Yaqub Younis has a history of criminal convictions. In 1990, he was convicted of affray. In 2004, he was imprisoned for four years for false imprisonment. He also received a 16-month sentence for witness intimidation in 2015 and an 11.5-year sentence in January 2018, from which he was released on licence on July 9, 2021.

Additionally, in March 2003, a Yaqub Younis from Alum Rock, Birmingham, was charged with the murder of Shaham Ali following a shooting in Small Heath on March 17. Four other men, associated with Birmingham Central Mosque, faced related charges, including attempted murder and false imprisonment. It is unclear from the provided information if this is the same Yaqub Younis as in the other cases, but the sentencing remarks from July 2026 mention a previous 11.5-year imprisonment, which could potentially relate to this.

Other Court Appearances

Public court records also show hearings for a "Mr Younis YAQUB" at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on June 6 and June 9, 2026, for a "Hearing" with reference 2600206091. There are also records for "YOUNIS Yaqub" at Sheffield Crown Court for "For Trial" hearings on June 8 and June 9, 2026, with reference 14XG1014725. These Sheffield Crown Court dates align with the trial for the bomb hoax incident.