This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27488006
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Syria conflict: First Briton convicted of terrorist offences | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A 31-year-old man from Portsmouth has become the first person in the UK to be convicted of terrorist offences in connection with the conflict in Syria. | |
Father-of-two Mashudur Choudhury was convicted of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts. | Father-of-two Mashudur Choudhury was convicted of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts. |
The court heard he had travelled to Syria to attend a terrorist training camp. He was arrested at Gatwick Airport on his return to the UK. | |
Choudhury had told the court he wanted to emigrate to avoid problems at home. | Choudhury had told the court he wanted to emigrate to avoid problems at home. |
Prosecutors at the trial at Kingston Crown Court said Choudhury had wanted to be trained in the use of firearms and intended to pursue a "political, religious or ideological cause". | |
They said he had discussed his wish to become a "martyr". | |
Skype calls | |
The court heard that Choudhury left the UK on 8 October 2013, travelling on a commercial flight to Turkey alongside four other men from the Portsmouth area. | |
He later travelled on to Syria, although prosecutors said it was not known what he had done there. | |
He was arrested on his return to the UK later that month. | |
Prosecutors said that before his trip Choudhury had been in regular contact via Skype with another man, Ifthekar Jaman, who had already gone to Syria. | |
The jury heard how Mr Jaman had been interviewed over Skype by a journalist from the BBC's Newsnight programme in which he admitted he was fighting in the country. | |
Prosecutors said that during the Skype exchanges Choudhury, a former youth worker, had asked Mr Jaman about weapons training and buying a handgun. | |
Mr Jaman, who is believed to have died fighting in Syria, told him his training would last between one and six weeks. |