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Terrorism

WhatsApp Terror Group Members Jailed for Almost 30 Years for Islamic State Support

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Three members of a WhatsApp terror group who shared propaganda and sought to raise funds for Islamic State have been sentenced to a total of 28 years in prison. The group, which included Roshman Azad Wali Saeed, Tshko Ahmad Mohamad, and Mohammed Hamad, was uncovered by Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands, who identified the men's involvement in terrorism-related activities between 2022 and 2023. The investigation revealed that the group used WhatsApp to promote propaganda and arrange funding for Islamic State, and that they had hidden cash and mobile phones in an attempt to evade detection.

Key Takeaways:

  • Roshman Azad Wali Saeed, 30, from Birmingham, was convicted of six counts of disseminating terrorism publications and entering terrorism funding activities, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
  • Tshko Ahmad Mohamad, 33, from West Bromwich, was convicted of fundraising for terrorism and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
  • Mohammed Hamad, from Liverpool, admitted to two offences connected to the dissemination of terrorism propaganda and was sentenced to four years in prison.
  • Omar Hussain Ahmadi, 24, from Sheffield, was arrested at Stansted Airport in April 2023 with £7,000 hidden in baby milk powder tins and was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison for his involvement in a terrorism funding arrangement.
  • The investigation uncovered over £4,000 in cash, 30 SIM cards, and a dozen mobile phones, as well as messages promoting Islamic State propaganda and graphic images and videos.
  • The group's WhatsApp chat was used to promote propaganda and arrange funding for Islamic State, and the men were found to be in support of the banned organisation.
  • The police are urging the public to report any suspicious activity, with public reports helping to tackle the terrorist threat every year.
  • The police reported that over 30,000 reports from the public were made in 2022, helping to keep the public safe.

Statistics:

  • 28 years: total sentence for the three WhatsApp terror group members.
  • 12 years: sentence of Roshman Azad Wali Saeed.
  • 7 years: sentence of Tshko Ahmad Mohamad.
  • 4 years: sentence of Mohammed Hamad.
  • 5 years and 7 months: sentence of Omar Hussain Ahmadi.
  • £4,000: amount of cash seized in the investigation.
  • 30 SIM cards: number of SIM cards seized in the investigation.
  • 12 mobile phones: number of mobile phones seized in the investigation.
  • 2022: year in which over 30,000 reports from the public were made to help tackle the terrorist threat.

Sources:

  • Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands
  • Birmingham Crown Court
  • Liverpool Crown Court
  • Stansted Airport
  • gov.uk/ACT
  • Detective Superintendent Annie Miller
  • A police spokesperson

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