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| British jihadist Imran Khawaja jailed for 12 years | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A British jihadist who fled to Syria and joined a militant group with links to so-called Islamic State has been given a 12-year custodial sentence. | A British jihadist who fled to Syria and joined a militant group with links to so-called Islamic State has been given a 12-year custodial sentence. |
| Imran Khawaja, from west London, spent six months in Syria, during which he was pictured posing with severed heads. | Imran Khawaja, from west London, spent six months in Syria, during which he was pictured posing with severed heads. |
| Khawaja, 27, was arrested in Dover last June after faking his death and trying to return to the UK undetected. | |
| He admitted preparing for acts of terrorism, attending a camp, receiving training and possessing firearms. | |
| Delivering his decision, judge Mr Justice Baker said Khawaja posed "a significant risk of serious harm" to the public. He will serve a minimum of eight years. | |
| His cousin, Tahir Bhatti, from Watford in Hertfordshire was jailed for 21 months. He will serve half of his sentence. | |
| Bhatti had driven to Serbia to collect Khawaja and bring him back to the UK. | |
| Asim Ali, from Ealing in west London - who provided his friend Khawaja with funds - was also given 21 months in prison. | |
| At Woolwich Crown Court, Mr Justice Baker described Khawaja as a "willing and enthusiastic" participant in recruitment films. | |
| And he dismissed Khawaja's claim that he came home to see his family and regretted his actions. | |
| The judge said: "It is clear in the last few years you have been showing an increasing interest in Islamic jihadist material. | |
| "You took part in the production of films designed to promote the Islamic State cause and encouraging UK muslims to join you in jihad. | |
| "Your interest was sufficiently profound for you to travel to Syria to train for jihad. | |
| "I'm also satisfied, by the time you decided to return to the UK, you had completed your terrorist training." | |
| Khawaja showed no emotion as he was led from the court. |