Terror fundraisers jailed

TWIN brothers who admitted raising money in England to fund terrorism abroad were jailed for three years today.

Father-of-three Mohammed Shabir Ali and Transport for London employee Mohammed Shafiq Ali were part of a “network of support” for their brother while he was undergoing terrorist training in Somalia, the Old Bailey heard.

The 25-year-old identical twins from Tower Hamlets, east London, were recorded speaking on the phone to their brother Mohammed Shamim Ali about collecting the money from the public by pretending it was for charity, prosecutor Timothy Cray said.

Sentencing the two men, Mr Justice Fulford said he recognised that their primary concern was providing financial help to their 29-year-old brother.

But he added that this support was for someone involved in “terrorist activities in war-torn countries of Africa”.

The judge said: “The courts must reflect the seriousness of offences of this kind in the sentences that are handed down, given that they were intended to support terrorism.”

The twins plotted to con people into donating cash by saying it was for Muslim Aid and the “Palestinian cause”, Mr Cray said.

While police say they will never know the exact amount of money they sent over, the twins admitted the charge on the basis it was £3,000, sent to Somalia between August 2008 and June last year.

Mr Justice Fulford told the court: “The financial assistance took place at a time when both defendants suspected that their older brother was involved in terrorist training activities in Somalia.

“It is accepted by the prosecution that they sent funds primarily out of concern for their brother’s physical and mental health, although it is important to note this was in the context of his planned involvement in terrorism.”

He added: “It is clear that they knew that their brother needed financial assistance and why.”