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| British jihadist Imran Khawaja jailed for 12 years | 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. | 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. | 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 and also serve 5 years on licence. | 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 and also serve 5 years on licence. |
| His cousin, Tahir Bhatti, from Watford in Hertfordshire was jailed for 21 months. He will serve half of his sentence. | 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. | 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. | 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, Khawaja's counsel Henry Blaxland QC told the court his client had a very low IQ and had been "indoctrinated" in the months before he fled for Syria, in January 2014. | At Woolwich Crown Court, Khawaja's counsel Henry Blaxland QC told the court his client had a very low IQ and had been "indoctrinated" in the months before he fled for Syria, in January 2014. |
| But Mr Justice Baker described Khawaja, who joined the Rayat al-Tawheed (RAT) insurgent group, 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. | And he dismissed Khawaja's claim that he came home to see his family and regretted his actions. |
| Terrorist training | Terrorist training |
| The judge said: "It is clear in the last few years you have been showing an increasing interest in Islamic jihadist material. | 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. | "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." | "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. | Khawaja showed no emotion as he was led from the court. |
| Analysis: BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani | |
| Imran Khawaja's case is arguably the most serious Syria-related terrorism conviction to date. | |
| Not only is there evidence that he engaged in what the prosecution called "armed activity", but he was part of a social media campaign aimed at recruiting others from Britain - a campaign in which he revelled in the deaths of others. | |
| He could have received a life sentence - but while his extended term is long, it is a slightly shorter term than one given to two Birmingham men who were jailed last year. | |
| Sentencing rules make clear that those who engage in the most serious forms of terrorism can receive terms that are designed to deter others from following them. Khawaja has the rest of his life to think about what he did - and he has told the court that he hopes other men do not make the same mistake. | |
| Messages from his family were read to the court on Thursday. | Messages from his family were read to the court on Thursday. |
| In them, he lied about when he was coming home from Syria, before confiding he was there to die a martyr. | In them, he lied about when he was coming home from Syria, before confiding he was there to die a martyr. |
| The court saw a video of Khawaja posing with severed heads in the Middle East country. | The court saw a video of Khawaja posing with severed heads in the Middle East country. |
| Dozens of images of him posing with automatic weapons and tanks were also produced. | Dozens of images of him posing with automatic weapons and tanks were also produced. |
| The court was also told of social media postings about his apparent death after a fake announcement was made on social media site Instagram. | The court was also told of social media postings about his apparent death after a fake announcement was made on social media site Instagram. |
| Prosecutor Brian Altman said the postings provided cover for Khawaja's return to the UK on 3 June. | Prosecutor Brian Altman said the postings provided cover for Khawaja's return to the UK on 3 June. |