Man convicted after training for IS at Paintball centre

Central
West Midlands
birmingham
Terrorism
Thursday 15 December 2016 at 2:48pm

Credit: West Midlands Police.

A Birmingham man has been found guilty today at Birmingham Crown Court of committing terrorism offences.

Humza Ali, aged 20 from Bromford Lane, Birmingham, has been convicted of three counts of distributing terrorist publications under Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006 and attempting to travel to Syria for terrorist purposes contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

A jury heard how Ali − together with Ali Akbar Zeb, aged 19, from Northleigh Road, Birmingham, who pleaded guilty at the start of the trial to three counts of distributing extremist literature - shared graphic images and videos via a Whatsapp group to promote Daesh.

Zeb and Ali (pictured above left to right) had shared conversations and videos across different social media applications switching between apps and chat groups in an attempt to stop police tracking their activity.

As well as distributing images, evidence presented to the court stated that Humza Ali had planned to travel to Syria to fight with Daesh since 2013. In an attempt to travel to Syria in January 2015, Ali booked a complex journey travelling from Birmingham to Scotland to Belfast then onto Dublin before boarding a flight to Turkey. On arrival in Turkey, he was refused entry into the country. When Ali arrived back in the UK three days later, his phone was seized and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of preparing for terrorist acts.

When Ali’s phone was examined following his arrest, 100 pictures and videos were found glorifying actions of Daesh including graphic scenes of war, extreme violence carried out by Daesh and Daesh propaganda.

The court heard how in June 2014, Ali attended a paintballing session with six other people − including Gabriel Rasmus and Mohammed Ali Ahmed. Credit: West Midlands Police.

The court heard how in June 2014, Ali attended a paintballing session with six other people − including Gabriel Rasmus and Mohammed Ali Ahmed. Rasmus pleaded guilty last November to preparing for acts of terrorism after he attempted to travel to Syria.

He is currently serving a four year and three month sentence in prison. In a separate case, Mohammed Ahmed pleaded guilty on 8 November to funding terrorism − he was sentenced on Monday to eight years.

Images of the paintballing session were found on a phone seized from Ali in 2014 during a previous arrest, images also included a selfie of Ali in t-shirt with the wording "Call of duty Dawah and Jihad" on it.

Ali had also planned to travel in December 2014 with Gabriel Rasmus from Birmingham to Amsterdam by coach but these plans were never carried out.

In July 2014, Ali met up with Brusholm Ziamani in Birmingham city centre. Credit: ITV News.

In July 2014, Ali met up with Brusholm Ziamani in Birmingham city centre and both were seen handing out leaflets entitled "Education under the Shari’ah" in Chamberlain Square. At the time Ziamani was being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service and, in March 2015, he was jailed for 22 years for planning to behead a British soldier.

While investigating Humza Ali in 2015, detectives were informed that Ali had sent an offensive message to a Birmingham Labour Councillor. Earlier this year, a further abusive message was sent by Ali to the councillor. Ali was subsequently charged with two offences under the Malicious Communications Act. Ali was also found guilty of these charges.

Delta Force Paintball in Hockley Heath. Credit: West Midlands Police.

ACC Marcus Beale, Counter Terrorism Lead for West Midlands Police, said:

"These men had a large amount of imagery, videos and documents on their phones, we also had evidence that Ali tried to get into Turkey for onward travel to Syria in order to fight for Daesh. "We cannot underestimate the dangerous nature of the propaganda produced by Daesh and the influence it can have; which is why it is so important to hold to account those who share with others these social media posts. If anyone is concerned that a friend or family member is thinking of travelling to Syria it is very important that they tell us as soon as possible. Police and other agencies can offer support to help safeguard those who are vulnerable to radicalisers. "The sooner we can intervene, the better chance we have of preventing young people from becoming embroiled in the conflict and facing potential prosecution."

Ali and Zeb will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 30 January.

West Midlands Police: 'Conviction sends clear message on terror'

West Midlands Police Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale says convictions continue to send a clear message to those who think they are going to engage and support terror, that they will not get away with it.

Comments come after apprentice bricklayer from Birmingham was today convicted of trying to join the Islamic State terror group in Syria and "training" for battle at a local Midlands paint-balling centre.

The Assistant Chief Constable added that there are ongoing issues and challenges in the fight against terror, with encrypted devices and communications, police and security services must continue to develop their techniques and abilities.

Anyone concerned about someone travelling to, or returning from, Syria or another conflict zone or is worried about someone showing signs of being radicalised should contact their local police on 101 or visit www.preventtragedies.co.uk to access relevant support and advice.