A group of UK-based Islamic extremists used charity convoys
taking food and medicine to Syria as a cover to smuggle money to terrorists, a
court has heard.
The four men allegedly sent £4,500 to a fighter with Al
Qaeda-linked group Jabhat al-Nusra so he could buy a sniper rifle and other
military equipment.
They also plotted to set up a ‘night team’ of terrorist
snipers in the war-torn country, it was claimed.
Syed Hoque, 37, is said to have supplied cash to the
terrorist,
his nephew Mohammed Choudhury, 26, and discussed the beheading of
enemies.
Mashoud Miah, 27, is said to have acted as a ‘fixer’ while
Mohammed Hussain, 30, and Pervez Rafiq, 46, allegedly sourced equipment to be
sent to Syria on charity convoys.
Prosecutor Annabel Darlow QC told the Old Bailey: ‘The
defendants made use, or so it would appear, of aid convoys as a means of moving
money and other property out of the United Kingdom to Syria.
‘The prosecution do not suggest that the aid convoys
themselves did not have an overall charitable purpose, or that those
participating did not intend by the provision of food and medicine to help the
civilian population suffering in Syria.
‘However the convoys would have provided a useful conduit
for these defendants to abuse the spirit of the convoys to convey money and
property to terrorists.’
Miss Darlow added: ‘This is not about helping orphans in
Syria... this is about arms.’
The plot was uncovered when Hoque and his wife Nazia Khanom
were stopped at Heathrow Airport on their return from Bangladesh on 5 August
2014.
Analysis of the contents of their phones later revealed
Whatsapp chats to Hoque’s nephew Mohammed Choudhury, who was fighting with
Jabhat al-Nusra, the terrorist wing of Al Qaeda in Syria.
Messages are said to have showed that Hoque had supplied his
nephew with money and discussed buying a Dragunov sniper rifle, AK-47 and a
nightscope.
Choudhury had left the UK for Cairo in September 2012 and
did not return on the booked flight for July 2013, instead making his way to
Syria.
Miss Darlow said: ‘Syed Hoque was only too aware that his
nephew was engaged in military conflict and that he sought by violent means the
death and destruction of the Syrian President and his supporters.
‘Hoque actively encouraged Choudhury in these goals and
repeatedly both provided and offered to provide financial and other support to
Choudhury.’
In one chat Hoque even tried to ‘reign in some of
Choudhury’s worst excesses’ by advising him to behead his enemies but not
mutilate them, jurors heard.
Detectives also found a list of equipment which Miah was
trying to gather together, including a satellite phone, SatNav, iPad, laptop
and Kestrel ballistics software to help a shooter fire more accurately.
‘This was a list of equipment which would be of enormous use
to someone based in a region such as Syria, where normal communications had
broken down,’ said Miss Darlow.
A search of Hussain’s home uncovered a notebook referring to
£3,000 and a to-do list mentioning a range finder and satellite phone.
Hoque allegedly sent the £3,000 to Syria on a Children in
Deen convoy leaving the UK on 25 July 2013 and £1,500 on an Al Fatiha convoy
leaving the UK on 21 December 2013.
He also offered to help Miah raise funds for his plan for a
night team of snipers, the court heard.
Hoque, of Stockingstone Road, Luton, denies three counts of
entering into an arrangement to supply money or property to terrorists.
Miah, of Aston Street, Limehouse, east London, Hussain, of
Galsworthy Avenue, Limehouse, and Rafique, of Basil Street, Huddersfield, all
deny one count of entering into an arrangement to supply money or property to
terrorists.
The trial continues.
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