The mother of the young man who planted a home-made bomb on a packed Jubilee line train has blamed YouTube for “poisoning” her son's mind.
Former altar boy Damon Smith was found guilty on Wednesday of leaving the device – made using a £2 Tesco clock – on the busy Tube train.
The 20-year-old, who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, built the bomb at home after Googling an al Qaeda article on how to make one.
He also told police he was inspired by watching a bomb prank video on YouTube channel Troll Station.
His mother Anotonitza Smith said she blamed the website for influencing her son and called for it to be banned.
“How to make a bomb - that shouldn't be on YouTube because people copy, especially vulnerable people,” she told the Telegraph.
“They talk about terrorism, beheadings. That shouldn't be on YouTube so young kids could see it. It's wrong.
"The government should ban it so it might save another child from what my son has gone through."
The discovery of Smith’s rucksack, packed with explosives and ball bearing shrapnel, on a Tube train in north Greenwich on October 20 last year, sparked chaos on the capital’s transport network.
A search of Smith's home in Rotherhithe, south London, revealed his fixation with guns, explosives and other weapons.
Smith’s mother said that people with learning disabilities, like her son, can start copying “weird” topics on the internet.
The 47-year-old added: “"I think YouTube is poison. They talk about terrorism, beheadings. That shouldn't be on YouTube so young kids should see it. It's wrong."
Police seized a blank-firing self-loading pistol and a BB gun from Mr Smith, both bought legally, as well as a knuckleduster and a knife which he showed off in an online video.
Pictures were also recovered of Smith with guns, including one on a laptop labelled "2016 an Islamic State fighter".
Smith watched YouTube videos on explosions and posted a picture of himself on Facebook in a Guy Fawkes mask holding handcuffs and a knuckleduster, jurors were told.
He professed to be interested in Islam as it is "more true" than Christianity, but denied being an extremist.
He posed next to an image of the Islamic terrorist alleged to have masterminded the attacks in Paris in November 2015, the court heard.
In his defence, extracts of a psychiatric report were read out in court confirming an autism spectrum disorder.
He had been interested in bomb-making since the age of 10 and said that it was "something to do when he was bored".
Smith denied possession of an explosive substance with intent but admitted the lesser offence of making a bomb hoax.
A jury rejected his explanation and found Smith guilty of the more serious charge after deliberating for two hours.
YouTube has been contacted for comment.
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