Latest news with #alQaida
Powys County Times
5 days ago
- Powys County Times
Man who went to Syria guilty of joining al Qaida-linked group
A man has been found guilty of travelling to Syria to fight with a terrorist group linked to al Qaida for jihad. Isa Giga, 32, resigned from his job as a technical support consultant job at a technology firm and bought a business class return flight to Turkey before crossing into wartorn Syria in August 2015. Despite pleas from his family, Giga did not return to the UK for nine years and was arrested upon his arrival on a flight from Turkey last May. Following a trial at the Old Bailey, he was found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts between August 31 2015 and August 31 2016 by travelling to Syria to fight with the Jaysh Al Fath groups. The court heard how Giga had left the home he shared with his parents and sister in Hounslow, west London, in August 2015 and informed them he had gone to Syria for jihad. On September 11 2015 – the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in the United States – he told his sister: 'I have come here to fight for jihad. I'm based in Idlib province and I fight for Jaysh al Fath which is the rebel coalition which includes the Free Syrian Army up to al Qaida-linked groups. 'I have come here to fight against (Bashar) Assad and also to fight against Isis. I can't sit at home when fellow Muslims are in need and their religion is in danger.' His father responded: 'Please don't do anything that will break my or your mother's or family's heart, stay within the bounds of true Islam and humanity, stay away from extremism and follow the Sunnah.' But in a further message to his sister, Giga said he had finished his training and had been given the 'opportunity to fight on the front line in the near future'. He told her: 'I hope more than anything to gain martyrdom while fighting against Isis or against the Assad regime but I fear death as much as anyone else so I am in need of your duas (prayers).' The court heard that Giga's father did everything he could to try to convince his son to return home and travelled to Reyhanli, a small Turkish town close to the Syrian border. In a letter to Giga from the border, he wrote: 'I have promısed your mum that somehow I will try my best to convince you to come out of there, and we will settle down anywhere in this world where you feel comfortable and happy… 'Can you for one minute imagine what the rest of her life will be like if something was to happen to you? Isa, her life wıll be destroyed and so will all of ours. 'It is on that basis I beg you to stay safe and come out of there immediately. And stay away from the front line because the Russians are using all kınds of firepower.' However, Giga appeared to be set on 'martyrdom', the court heard. Then in December 2015, Giga told his sister that he planned on doing charity work – although the organisation concerned had no record of it – and by August 2016 contact with his family petered out. Eight years later, Giga was issued an emergency passport by the British Consulate in Istanbul. Police were waiting when Giga arrived at Heathrow Airport on a Turkish Airlines flight on May 23 2024. Following his arrest, Giga made no comment in police interviews but in a prepared statement denied he had travelled to Syria to fight or join any groups. He claimed he had lied to his family about doing charity work, training, fighting and joining groups because he thought they would struggle to understand the idea of going there simply to live. Giving evidence in his Old Bailey trial, Giga maintained that he had gone to Syria only to live in an Islamic state. A jury deliberated for 10 hours and 26 minutes to reject his version of events and find him guilty by a majority of 11 to one. Judge Mark Lucraft KC ordered a report and adjourned sentencing to October 17. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'We have been clear for some time now that anyone returning to the UK suspected of being involved in any terrorist-related activity overseas will be thoroughly investigated. 'We work very closely with other partners and agencies here in the UK and overseas in order to do this and help keep the public safe.
The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
Man who went to Syria guilty of joining al Qaida-linked group
A man has been found guilty of travelling to Syria to fight with a terrorist group linked to al Qaida for jihad. Isa Giga, 32, resigned from his job as a technical support consultant job at a technology firm and bought a business class return flight to Turkey before crossing into wartorn Syria in August 2015. Despite pleas from his family, Giga did not return to the UK for nine years and was arrested upon his arrival on a flight from Turkey last May. Following a trial at the Old Bailey, he was found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts between August 31 2015 and August 31 2016 by travelling to Syria to fight with the Jaysh Al Fath groups. The court heard how Giga had left the home he shared with his parents and sister in Hounslow, west London, in August 2015 and informed them he had gone to Syria for jihad. On September 11 2015 – the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in the United States – he told his sister: 'I have come here to fight for jihad. I'm based in Idlib province and I fight for Jaysh al Fath which is the rebel coalition which includes the Free Syrian Army up to al Qaida-linked groups. 'I have come here to fight against (Bashar) Assad and also to fight against Isis. I can't sit at home when fellow Muslims are in need and their religion is in danger.' His father responded: 'Please don't do anything that will break my or your mother's or family's heart, stay within the bounds of true Islam and humanity, stay away from extremism and follow the Sunnah.' But in a further message to his sister, Giga said he had finished his training and had been given the 'opportunity to fight on the front line in the near future'. He told her: 'I hope more than anything to gain martyrdom while fighting against Isis or against the Assad regime but I fear death as much as anyone else so I am in need of your duas (prayers).' The court heard that Giga's father did everything he could to try to convince his son to return home and travelled to Reyhanli, a small Turkish town close to the Syrian border. In a letter to Giga from the border, he wrote: 'I have promısed your mum that somehow I will try my best to convince you to come out of there, and we will settle down anywhere in this world where you feel comfortable and happy… 'Can you for one minute imagine what the rest of her life will be like if something was to happen to you? Isa, her life wıll be destroyed and so will all of ours. 'It is on that basis I beg you to stay safe and come out of there immediately. And stay away from the front line because the Russians are using all kınds of firepower.' However, Giga appeared to be set on 'martyrdom', the court heard. Then in December 2015, Giga told his sister that he planned on doing charity work – although the organisation concerned had no record of it – and by August 2016 contact with his family petered out. Eight years later, Giga was issued an emergency passport by the British Consulate in Istanbul. Police were waiting when Giga arrived at Heathrow Airport on a Turkish Airlines flight on May 23 2024. Following his arrest, Giga made no comment in police interviews but in a prepared statement denied he had travelled to Syria to fight or join any groups. He claimed he had lied to his family about doing charity work, training, fighting and joining groups because he thought they would struggle to understand the idea of going there simply to live. Giving evidence in his Old Bailey trial, Giga maintained that he had gone to Syria only to live in an Islamic state. A jury deliberated for 10 hours and 26 minutes to reject his version of events and find him guilty by a majority of 11 to one. Judge Mark Lucraft KC ordered a report and adjourned sentencing to October 17. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'We have been clear for some time now that anyone returning to the UK suspected of being involved in any terrorist-related activity overseas will be thoroughly investigated. 'We work very closely with other partners and agencies here in the UK and overseas in order to do this and help keep the public safe. 'As this case shows, we will always arrest those who return to the UK after fighting for a terrorist group, no matter how long it has been since they left the country.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Man who went to Syria guilty of joining al Qaida-linked group
A man has been found guilty of travelling to Syria to fight with a terrorist group linked to al Qaida for jihad. Isa Giga, 32, resigned from his job as a technical support consultant job at a technology firm and bought a business class return flight to Turkey before crossing into wartorn Syria in August 2015. Despite pleas from his family, Giga did not return to the UK for nine years and was arrested upon his arrival on a flight from Turkey last May. Following a trial at the Old Bailey, he was found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts between August 31 2015 and August 31 2016 by travelling to Syria to fight with the Jaysh Al Fath groups. The court heard how Giga had left the home he shared with his parents and sister in Hounslow, west London, in August 2015 and informed them he had gone to Syria for jihad. On September 11 2015 – the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in the United States – he told his sister: 'I have come here to fight for jihad. I'm based in Idlib province and I fight for Jaysh al Fath which is the rebel coalition which includes the Free Syrian Army up to al Qaida-linked groups. 'I have come here to fight against (Bashar) Assad and also to fight against Isis. I can't sit at home when fellow Muslims are in need and their religion is in danger.' His father responded: 'Please don't do anything that will break my or your mother's or family's heart, stay within the bounds of true Islam and humanity, stay away from extremism and follow the Sunnah.' But in a further message to his sister, Giga said he had finished his training and had been given the 'opportunity to fight on the front line in the near future'. He told her: 'I hope more than anything to gain martyrdom while fighting against Isis or against the Assad regime but I fear death as much as anyone else so I am in need of your duas (prayers).' The court heard that Giga's father did everything he could to try to convince his son to return home and travelled to Reyhanli, a small Turkish town close to the Syrian border. In a letter to Giga from the border, he wrote: 'I have promısed your mum that somehow I will try my best to convince you to come out of there, and we will settle down anywhere in this world where you feel comfortable and happy… 'Can you for one minute imagine what the rest of her life will be like if something was to happen to you? Isa, her life wıll be destroyed and so will all of ours. 'It is on that basis I beg you to stay safe and come out of there immediately. And stay away from the front line because the Russians are using all kınds of firepower.' However, Giga appeared to be set on 'martyrdom', the court heard. Then in December 2015, Giga told his sister that he planned on doing charity work – although the organisation concerned had no record of it – and by August 2016 contact with his family petered out. Eight years later, Giga was issued an emergency passport by the British Consulate in Istanbul. Police were waiting when Giga arrived at Heathrow Airport on a Turkish Airlines flight on May 23 2024. Following his arrest, Giga made no comment in police interviews but in a prepared statement denied he had travelled to Syria to fight or join any groups. He claimed he had lied to his family about doing charity work, training, fighting and joining groups because he thought they would struggle to understand the idea of going there simply to live. Giving evidence in his Old Bailey trial, Giga maintained that he had gone to Syria only to live in an Islamic state. A jury deliberated for 10 hours and 26 minutes to reject his version of events and find him guilty by a majority of 11 to one. Judge Mark Lucraft KC ordered a report and adjourned sentencing to October 17.
National Post
16-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Anthony De Luca-Baratta: Canada cannot afford to pivot away from the U.S.
Article content The American-Canadian alliance persisted after the collapse of the Soviet Union. When al-Qaida terrorists attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, Canada sent over 40,000 troops to America's aid in Afghanistan. When ISIS threatened the stability of the Middle East, American and Canadian personnel played a crucial role in defeating it. Article content It's no coincidence that Canadians and Americans have fought, bled and died together for over 100 years. A world order that is good for America is also good for Canada. Disruptions of that order threaten the lives and livelihoods of Americans and Canadians alike. Crucially for Canada, it cannot maintain this world order without the United States. This is as true today as it was throughout the 20th century. Article content It is this strategic reality, not the whims of the moment, that are guiding Carney's policy toward his southern neighbour. A loose autocratic axis led by China, Russia and Iran is disrupting the global order that the United States created and has worked hard to maintain since 1945. Article content These countries also threaten Canada by funding terrorism that endangers Canadian citizens, interfering in Canadian elections, threatening Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic and disrupting global trade routes. Confronting these threats without America's help is far beyond Canada's military capacity — and will remain so even if Ottawa achieves its five per cent defence-spending target. Article content Both Carney and Trump understand this. It's why Trump, with a crucial assist from Israel, destroyed key Iranian nuclear facilities with targeted airstrikes last month. It's why Canada continues to maintain a military presence on the Russian border in Latvia. It's why both countries want to modernize North American air defences. And it's why Trump recently promised to always defend Canada, despite his bluster about making it the 51st U.S. state. Article content This is as it should be. From the trenches of the Western Front to the skies of Mosul, Canadians and Americans have fought to defend a world in which both their countries could prosper. For the sake of Canadians and Americans alike, the prime minister should ignore his short-sighted critics and stay the course. For Canada, America remains the indispensable nation. Article content Article content Article content
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Terror laws watchdog warns of risk posed by extremists using AI
Terrorists will use artificial intelligence (AI) to promote their ideologies and plan atrocities, with 'chatbot radicalisation' a problem that needs to be countered, a watchdog has warned. Jonathan Hall KC said generative AI could be used for propaganda purposes, attack planning and spreading disinformation which may trigger acts of terrorist violence. Mr Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, suggested new laws should be brought in to ban the creation or possession of computer programmes designed to stir up racial or religious hatred. Terrorist chatbots already exist 'presented as fun and satirical models' but given the right prompts they are willing to promote terrorism, he said in his annual report. Mr Hall said: 'The popularity of sex-chatbots is a warning that terrorist chatbots could provide a new radicalisation dynamic, with all the legal difficulties that follow in pinning liability on machines and their creators.' The watchdog highlighted the case of Jaswant Singh Chail, who climbed into the grounds of Windsor Castle in 2021 armed with a crossbow after conversing with a chatbot called Sarai about planning the attack. More widely, Mr Hall said 'generative artificial intelligence's ability to create text, images and sounds will be exploited by terrorists'. Groups such as al Qaida could avoid the technology because of their belief in 'authentic messages' from senior leaders but it could be 'boom time for extreme right wing forums, antisemites and conspiracy theorists who revel in creative nastiness'. Terrorist groups could use AI to generate propaganda images or translate text into multiple languages. The technology could be used to produce deepfakes to bring 'terrorist leaders or notorious killers back from the dead' to spread their message again. Generative AI could be used to provide technical advice on avoiding surveillance, or make knife-strikes more lethal – reducing the need for would-be terrorists to receive training from other people. But he said that current safeguards may deter attack planners from using AI models until offline versions were readily available. He noted it had also been argued that in certain circumstances AI could be used to extend the way attacks are carried out, by potentially helping to create biological or chemical weapons or generating code for cyber attacks. Warning about the spread of disinformation online, Mr Hall said the storming of the US Capitol on January 6 2021 emerged from a 'soup of online conspiracy and a history of anti-government militarism that had been supercharged by the internet'.
