A man who sent money to his nephew while he was fighting for an Islamist terrorist group in Syria has been convicted of terrorism offences.
Detectives found Farhad Mohammad, 45, arranged for $350 over two payments to be sent to his nephew - Idris Usman.
An investigation uncovered that Usman was fighting in Syria at the time for the proscribed terrorist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
Mohammad was found guilty of two terrorism funding offences following a ten-day trial at the Old Bailey in April.
The court heard he made two payments to his nephew in the space of three months between November 2017 and January 2018 via a third-party.
One of the messages found by officers on Mohammad’s phone from his nephew in May 2017 read: “Uncle forgive me, God willing I am going to participate in a fighting, either I will stay alive or I become a martyr, it is up to God.”
Another message found by officers from Usman to Mohammad in June 2017, indicating he was aware of his terrorist activities, read: “Uncle for the sake of God send me six and a half waraqa ($650), to buy a weapon, it is the one, which I like it, and may God reward you with good.”
Also among the messages sent from Usman to his Uncle was a picture of Usman sat on a motorbike with a gun over his shoulder.
Mohammad planned to travel to Turkey from London Stansted on February 27 2018 but, before he was stopped by police.
Officers found he had over £4,000 of cash, and three mobile phones, all of which were seized. Mohammad was found guilty of two counts of terrorist fundraising and found not guilty of two other counts.
A jury was unable to reach a verdict on a fifth count of terrorist fundraising. He is due to be sentenced at the same court on Thursday 20 June 2024.
Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Terrorist groups rely on financial support and funding to be able to operate. While Mohammad’s contributions may not have been vast sums, he was well aware his nephew wanted the money to purchase a firearm and to help fund his fighting in Syria.
“Groups like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham cause huge misery, terror and devastation. If you knowingly fund someone - family member or not - who is part of a group like that, then it is helping a terrorist organisation and it is something we take extremely seriously.”
Commander Murphy added: “Anyone who might be considering providing financial support to terrorists or terrorist organisations should think twice, as it is a serious offence and, as we’ve shown here, we will investigate those who are involved in this kind of activity.”
