Twins Pretended The Terrorism Funds They Were Raising Were For Charity

Twin brothers who raised money in England to fund terrorism abroad have been jailed for three years.

Mohammed Shabir Ali and Mohammed Shafiq Ali were part of a “network of support” for a third brother who was undergoing terrorist training in Somalia, the Old Bailey heard.

Prosecutor Timothy Cray said the 25-year-old identical twins had been recorded speaking on the phone to their brother, Mohammed Shamim Ali, 29, about collecting the money from members of the public by pretending it was for charity.

The pretended the donations would go to Muslim Aid and the “Palestinian cause”.

Mr Justice Fulford said: "The courts must reflect the seriousness of offences of this kind in the sentences that are handed down, given that they were intended to support terrorism.

"The financial assistance took place at a time when both defendants suspected that their older brother was involved in terrorist training activities in Somalia.

"It is accepted by the prosecution that they sent funds primarily out of concern for their brother's physical and mental health, although it is important to note this was in the context of his planned involvement in terrorism."

He said that in passing his sentence he took into account that the men were of previous good character and had shown a "strong element of responsibility" by giving evidence at a murder trial earlier this year. Their evidence had been a "significant" factor in the conviction of four men, he added.

(NE)