A British supermarket employee was convicted Thursday of preparing to fight with Philippine jihadists Abu Sayyaf.
Ryan Counsell, 28, was found guilty of preparing for acts of terrorism, notably having a "terror kit," which contains a bomb-making manual, kevlar boxer shorts and other military-style apparel and equipment.
Counsell, a cashier at Asda Groceries, had booked a flight on July 13 last year to the southern Philippine port of Zamboanga, which is the closest city to Basilan island, a stronghold of Abu Sayyaf.
The Abu Sayyaf Group, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, is listed as a banned terrorist group in Britain.
He had bought military equipment to "engage in combat or support an extremist group", the court was told.
Jurors at the Woolwich Crown Court heard how Counsell had spent almost £900 (US$1,130, €1,050) on "heavy-duty, military-style boots, combat trousers, camouflage clothing, knee and elbow pads, a monocular scope, rifle magazine pouches and a cheek pad to be attached to the stock of a rifle".
Counsell, a resident of Nottingham in central England, also had a bomb-making manual and documents providing "practical advice for someone wanting to travel to Syria to join Islamic State."
He had a copy of the Al-Qaeda terror group's online magazine Inspire, which contained an article entitled "Make a bomb in the kitchen of your Mom."
The material demonstrated that Counsell had a "profound and enduring interest in extremist Islam, jihad and the propaganda of Islamic State and similar groups", a lawyer for the state Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told the court.
The married father-of-one said he watched terrorist videos because he wanted to learn more about their propaganda. He claimed his planned trip to Zamboanga was for charitable relief work in an aid camp.
"Ryan Counsell meticulously planned his attempt to join a terrorist organization which is responsible for atrocities across the Philippines," Sue Hemming, head of the CPS counter-terror division, said after the verdict.
"He attempted to conceal his plan but prosecutors were able to successfully demonstrate his true intent to the jury."
Source / Image: AFP | Mirror UK
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