Colchester Man Jailed for Funding Terrorist Nephew in Syria
A 46-year-old man from Colchester has been sentenced for funding terrorism after sending cash to his nephew battling with a jihadi group in Syria.
Farhad Mohammad was convicted at the Old Bailey in April for two counts of terrorist fundraising. On 23 October 2024, he was handed a three-year community order with 250 hours of unpaid work, a three-month curfew, and a 30-day Rehabilitation Supervision Order.
Money Sent to Terror Fighter in Syria
Investigators revealed Mohammad sent $350 in two payments between November 2017 and January 2018 to Idris Usman, his nephew fighting for the terror group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. This group is banned in the UK.
Mohammad knew the cash was for weapons and funding violent acts, according to messages uncovered by detectives. In one chilling text from May 2017, Usman told his uncle: “Uncle forgive me, God willing I am going to participate in a fight, either I will stay alive or I become a martyr…”
Other messages showed Usman asking for money to buy guns and pictures emerged of him carrying firearms.
Police Trace Cash Through Mobile Phones
Mohammad was stopped at London Stansted Airport in February 2018 while trying to fly to Turkey. Police seized over £4,000 in cash and three phones under terrorism laws.
Experts used data from those devices to track the money trail and piece together the terror funding plot.
Counter Terror Chief Issues Warning
Commander Dominic Murphy of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “Even small sums help terrorist groups cause misery and devastation. Mohammad knew his nephew used the money to buy firearms and fuel fighting in Syria. Funding terrorists, family or not, is a grave crime we take extremely seriously.”
The Met urges anyone aware of suspicious activity to report it confidentially at www.gov.uk/ACT or call the anti-terror hotline on 0800 789 321.
