Brothers who planned to join Islamic State jailed

From the Birmingham Mail

Two Birmingham brothers who planned to join Islamic State have been jailed. Muhammad Abdul Haleem Heyder Khan, aged 21, and sibling Muhammad Hamzah Heyder Khan, 18, made preparations to travel to Afghanistan and thought they were ‘two weeks away’ from training for battle – but ultimately never left the bedroom they shared in Ward End, where they were arrested last November.

They initially claimed to be investigative journalists and said the ‘wealth’ of extremist material on their phones and computers was for ‘research purposes’. But three days into their trial they both pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorism. At Birmingham Crown Court (yesterday) Friday, November 24, they were both deemed ‘dangerous’ and handed extended sentences.

Haleem was jailed for ten years with an extended licence period of four years while Hamzah received eight years custody with the same four-year licence period. Both will have to serve two-thirds of their custodial terms before being eligible for release.

Judge Melbourne Inman KC said that throughout 2022 the brothers became ‘increasingly radicalised and came to hold extreme religious and ideological views’. They intended to join the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), a regional branch of the main Islamic State.

By the summer of last year they had plotted to travel to Afghanistan, and both had renewed their national identity cards for Pakistan where they intended to pass through.

Hamzah sought out a radical cleric for help  . . .Both made several contacts and evidence showed the brothers had spoken of sending money to Islamic State. Hamzah had communicated with a female who controlled membership to the terror group. In September last year they sent application forms to join. In response to a question about their ‘specialities’ and where they could serve they replied: “In battle or anywhere that the commander wants us.”

However, the Khans were ultimately arrested at their home at St. Josephs Road on November 2 last year. Judge Inman concluded that ‘significant obstacles’ remained in front of them and it would be a ‘matter of speculation’ as to whether they would have successfully made it to Afghanistan.