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| Syria conflict: First Briton convicted of terrorist offences | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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". He is due to be sentenced on 13 June and has been warned he faces a substantial sentence. | They said he had discussed his wish to become a "martyr". He is due to be sentenced on 13 June and has been warned he faces a substantial sentence. |
| Earlier this month, the EU's anti-terror chief said hundreds of Europeans were now fighting with rebel forces in Syria against Bashar al-Assad's regime. | Earlier this month, the EU's anti-terror chief said hundreds of Europeans were now fighting with rebel forces in Syria against Bashar al-Assad's regime. |
| In March, police arrested four people on suspicion of Syria-related terror offences. | In March, police arrested four people on suspicion of Syria-related terror offences. |
| Analysis | |
| By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent | |
| The jury took little over a day to find that Mashudur Choudhury's actions were a crime because it concluded he had sought to violently intervene in Syria for an ideological cause - and his specific actions fell within the UK's definition of terrorism. | |
| So security chiefs will regard the conviction as vindication of their tough Syria strategy and they hope it will discourage others from travelling. | |
| The result does not mean that future trials will have the same outcome - they will each turn on the individual facts. | |
| The outcome also raises another question: what will happen to the large numbers of British men still in Syria? Will these men ever come back? | |
| And if they do, will they all end up in court or will the government find other means of challenging their views and reintegrating them into normal life? | |
| Skype calls | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Mr Jaman, who is believed to have died fighting in Syria, told him his training would last between one and six weeks. |
| 'Cocktail of high risk' | |
| Assistant Chief Constable Brendan O'Dowda of the South East Counter Terrorism Unit, welcomed the verdict. | |
| He said: "Today's conviction sends out strong message to anyone considering engaging in terrorist activity, be that in the UK or overseas, that we will pursue you and your networks. | |
| "He has hid behind a history lies in an effort to misdirect and frustrate our investigation. | "He has hid behind a history lies in an effort to misdirect and frustrate our investigation. |
| "The ongoing conflict in Syria is terrible for us all to see. Great sympathy is felt for those victims of that conflict. | |
| "If anyone has a genuine desire to help then they are encouraged to offer aid and support by donating through charities supporting the relief operation. | |
| "Syria is a very dangerous place - best described as a cocktail of high risk and threat. | |
| "Anyone thinking of travelling to fight jihad against the Assad regime, think again. | |
| "You are likely to be killed or kidnapped and if you return to the UK you are highly likely to be arrested." | |
| Superintendent Ali Heydari, Portsmouth Commander of Hampshire Police, thanked the Muslim community for their support in what he described as a "unique case". | |
| He said: "We have very good relationships with key figures within the city and work with them to share information. We all have a common aim to prevent radicalisation in all forms. | |
| "In this case we received information from the community which was acted on and led to today's result. | |
| "We are working very closely with partner agencies in Portsmouth to implement the national Prevent programme. | |
| "This involves supporting those who may be vulnerable to radicalisation and helping to prevent people from travelling overseas to become involved in conflict and terrorist activity." | "This involves supporting those who may be vulnerable to radicalisation and helping to prevent people from travelling overseas to become involved in conflict and terrorist activity." |