A 46-year-old man from Colchester has been sentenced for terrorism offences after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command uncovered his financial support for a terrorist fighter in Syria. Farhad Mohammad was found guilty of two counts of terrorist fundraising at the Old Bailey in April and sentenced on 23 October 2024.
Detectives revealed that Mohammad had sent $350 in two separate payments between November 2017 and January 2018 to his nephew, Idris Usman, who was actively fighting for Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a terrorist group proscribed in the UK. The investigation showed that Mohammad was aware of his nephew’s involvement in terrorist activities and knew that the money he sent would be used to purchase weapons and support fighting efforts.
The investigation, initially led by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) and later taken on by the Met’s National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU), was able to piece together crucial evidence, including messages exchanged between Mohammad and Usman. In one message 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, it is up to God.”
Detectives also uncovered a message from June 2017 which Usman requested money to buy a weapon, as well as an image sent in August 2017 showing Usman with a gun over his shoulder.
Commander Dominic Murphy of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command commented: “Terrorist groups rely on financial support and funding to be able to operate. While Mohammad’s contributions may not have been vast sums, he was well aware his nephew wanted the money to purchase a firearm and to help fund his fighting in Syria. Groups like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham cause huge misery, terror, and devastation. If you knowingly fund someone—family member or not—who is part of a group like that, it is helping a terrorist organisation, and it is something we take extremely seriously.”
During the trial, investigators presented evidence that demonstrated Mohammad’s knowledge of his nephew’s activities and the purpose of the funds. Despite his claims, the court found him guilty of two counts of terrorist fundraising under Section 17 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Mohammad received a three-year community order, was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work, a three-month curfew between 9 pm and 8 am, and a 30-day Rehabilitation Supervision Order.
Mohammad was first intercepted at London Stansted Airport on 27 February 2018 while attempting to board a flight to Turkey. Officers used powers under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 to stop and search him, finding over £4,000 in cash and three mobile phones, all of which were seized. Detectives later used data from these devices to trace the transactions and prove his involvement in funding terrorism.
The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command has urged the public to report any suspicious activity, stressing that community vigilance is essential to combating terrorism. Commander Murphy added: “Anyone who might be considering providing financial support to terrorists or terrorist organisations should think twice, as it is a serious offence and, as we’ve shown here, we will investigate those who are involved in this kind of activity.”
The Met encourages anyone with information or suspicions about terrorist activity to report it confidentially at www.gov.uk/ACT or by calling the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321.
