Teen who planned to join ISIS jailed for more than three years
A teenager who plotted to fight for ISIS and said he would travel to Syria to join them during questioning has been jailed for more than three years.
Syed Choudhury.
Syed Choudhury, a student in Cardiff who was originally from Bradford, was sentenced today at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty last month to an offence under the Terrorism Act.
He was sentenced to three years and four months for an offence under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act, engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts.
Choudhury throughout an interview openly expressed his support for ISIS and even said he would travel to Syria to fight for the cause.
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The court heard how in July 2014, he took part in a demonstration in Cardiff protesting about the conflict in Gaza.
He carried a banner proclaiming his support for ISIS which brought him to the attention of anti-terrorism officers.
ACC Nikki Holland from South Wales Police said: “We welcome today’s sentence, which sends a clear message that those who show support for a terrorist organisation, and plan to further this through becoming involved in terrorist acts, will be brought to justice.
“Cardiff is a multi-cultural city and local policing teams, together with partner agencies, work hard to ensure that the people who live there can do so in a safe and peaceful environment.
“It is therefore vital that those who wish to support violent and murderous actions against others are identified both through rigorous policing and the support of communities who can report suspicious actions and behaviour.
“It is also important to reassure loved ones and friends that through the raising of concerns at an early stage, interventions can be put in place to protect those who are potentially vulnerable, or showing signs of an interest in terrorism or violent extremism, from taking the set into criminal activity.”
Choudhury was charged in December 2014.
