London brothers plead guilty to Syria terror training plan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27589376

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Two brothers have admitted at the Old Bailey to conspiring to travel to a terrorist training camp in Syria.

Hamza Nawaz, 23, and Mohommod Nawaz, 30, from Dirleton Road, Stratford, east London, are to be sentenced on 9 June.

Mohommod Nawaz also pleaded guilty to having rifle ammunition without a firearms certificate.

Last week, a man from Portsmouth became the first person in the UK to be convicted of terrorist offences in connection with the conflict in Syria.

Father-of-two Mashudur Choudhury, 31, was convicted of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts.

A 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. He is due to be sentenced on 13 June and has been warned he faces a substantial sentence.

Rebel forces

The Nawaz brothers, who have been remanded in custody, were arrested after ammunition was found in their car at Dover.

They admitted that between January 2012 and September 2013 they conspired together to attend a place used for terrorist training.

Mohommod Nawaz admitted last September to unlawfully having possession of five rounds of rifle ammunition without a firearms certificate.

The same charge was not proceeded with against Hamza Nawaz and was left on file.

A further charge alleging they both possessed information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism was also left on file.

The prosecution confirmed that charges against Nabeila Nawaz, 26, for perverting the course of justice and Zahir Nawaz, 31, for making a false statement - both from Stratford - would not be proceeded with.

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.