Terrorist sent almost £2,700 to help fighter brothers in Iraq

A terrorist who admits hoarding pro-Islamic State propaganda helped raise thousands of pounds for ‘fighter brothers’ in the Middle East, a court heard.

Ayub Nurhussein, 29, is charged with entering into a funding arrangement – totalling £2,699.19 for the purposes of terrorism between April 11 and July 11 last year.

Jurors at the Old Bailey were told that multiple communications had taken place between the defendant and another man, Said Mohammed, 30, via the private messaging app Telegram.

It is claimed that Mohammed was in contact with a third person in Iraq, known as Wassim.

Prosecutor Alistair Richardson said multiple messages had been exchanged in which Wassim had asked Mohammed to help raise funds from ‘brothers from abroad’ to support IS activities.

‘The situation is bad, my brother. The situation is bad at all levels in Iraq,’ he said.

‘If there are brothers…that would still give support, tell them this is a time of seriousness and this is a time when the Mujahedin (fighters) really need you.

‘This is a time of vulnerability and this is a time when we need brothers from abroad to help.’

Mr Richardson said that Wassim had arranged for a European go-between to allow money to be sent to support IS – also known as Daesh – with ‘no problems’.

In a voice message which was forwarded on to Nurhussein on April 19 by Mohammed, Wassim said: ‘Brother, this is the name of a sister in Denmark – you can transfer to it.’

The defendant responded to Mohammed by saying: ‘With Allah’s permission I will finish in four hours’ time and I will transfer the amount.’

The court heard that on April 20 a transaction of £1,300 was made from an account in Manchester to a Western Union bank branch in Copenhagen to a woman, named as Rwan Ebrahim.

Mr Richardson said that in June the defendant had contacted Mohammed with confirmation that his request to open a Western Union account had been approved, saying ‘the next transfer would be easier’.

A second transaction of £599.19 was made by Nurhussein on June 5 to the same bank in Copenhagen and collected by another man, Ali Aga, who was accompanied by Ms Ebrahim.

Mohammed subsequently sent a message to Wassim that said: ‘Brother, the brother has sent the money and he is at work.’

Mr Richardson said that the proximity of the calls and transactions between the two men and Wassim ‘clearly’ demonstrated the defendant’s involvement in the funding.

The court heard how, on July 2, the process was repeated again – with Nurhussein transferring £800 to the Danish bank.

Jurors were also shown extracts from clips with ‘graphic and grotesque propaganda’ shared from Nurhussein’s phone that, Mr Richardson said, demonstrated the defendant’s ‘mindset’ at the time when the transactions were made.

Nurhussein has already pleaded guilty to seven counts in relation to possession and dissemination of terrorist material.

Mr Richardson said there was a ‘shared and declared intention’ between Mohammed and Nurhussein to ‘travel to Syria to join their Mujahedin brothers’.

A message from Wassim to Mohammed read: ‘Brother this may be the last time you have to send [money] I have found you a way to Iraq.’

‘Preparations were made to travel to Iraq to join Islamic State,’ said Mr Richardson, adding that Mohammed had told Nurhussein ‘you’d better learn the Syrian language’.

Nurhussein, of Urlwin Road, south west London, has pleaded not guilty to entering into a funding arrangement for the purposes of terrorism.

He wore a blue tracksuit in the dock and smiled as the prosecution gave its opening.

Mohammed, from Manchester, is not before the court.

The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.

Source: Daily Mail