Jihadist to be sentenced for trying to join Islamic State

A jihadist who claimed he fled the UK in the back of a lorry because MI5 had made his life "intolerable" will be sentenced later for trying to join Islamic State.

Anas Abdalla was arrested along with Mahamuud Diini and Gabriel Rasmus when they were found hiding in a truck at the Kent port of Dover on April 3 last year.

Rasmus, 30, of Stratford Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham, admitted preparing for terrorist acts but Somalia-born Abdalla, 27, of Fox Hollies Road, Acocks Gardens, Birmingham, denied it and was found guilty after a retrial.

The pair, who are in custody, will be sentenced at the Old Bailey by Judge Richard Marks QC.

The retrial was heard partly in secret because the case was said to involve matters of "an extremely sensitive and confidential nature".

It can now be reported that the judge's order under Section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 had barred the public from being present when any evidence was called by the prosecution which "confirm or deny" allegations made in Abdalla's defence statement.

They were the allegation of contact or attempted contact with MI5 and his claim that "he would not be allowed by MI5 to live and progress normal expectations and achievements in life".

The court was closed during parts of Abdalla's evidence in the witness box,closing speeches by lawyers and the judge's summing up.

Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC told how the three men were befriended byundercover officer "Muhamed" who secretly recorded their conversations.

Muhamed initially met Rasmus who was a "subject of interest" to police and went on to spend time with both Abdalla and Diini, the court heard.

During meetings, Rasmus had repeatedly referred to "being out there" in Syria and told the officer about his earlier attempts to go.

Jurors were told how former asylum seeker Abdalla spoke about feeling "dirty" doing his IT job and said: "September 11 was so good."

On March 29, Muhamed picked up Rasmus, of Lozells, Birmingham, and Abdalla who told him they were waiting for "zero hour".

Two days later, Rasmus told the undercover officer he may need a lift to London "today or tomorrow".

On April 1, while in Muhamed's vehicle, Abdalla said "paradise, paradise, I swear to God I cannot wait", the court heard.

During the same journey, Rasmus told Muhamed that he wished he would come with them.

On April 2 they returned to Birmingham following a first failed attempt to leave in the back of a lorry and they told Muhamed they had paid £900 and needed the money back.

In a defence statement, Abdalla, an IT technician, said the secret services had made his life in Britain "intolerable" and affected his university career, job prospects and financial affairs in the UK. He said:

Abdalla hung his head as the jury found him guilty by a majority of 11 to one last month.

As he was remanded in custody, Abdalla threw a plastic cup at a counter-terror officer and said: "One day we will be standing in a bigger court than this."

Co-defendant Diini, also 27,of Coventry Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, was cleared following a trial earlier this year.