A 22-year-old man living in Bristol has been convicted of preparing acts of terrorism after travelling to Somalia with the intention of joining Daesh, following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing South East.
A 22-year-old man living in Bristol has been convicted of preparing acts of terrorism after travelling to Somalia with the intention of joining the proscribed terrorist organisation Daesh, the UK Defence Journal understands.
Mohamed Mohamoud, of Francombe Grove in Horfield, Bristol, was found guilty by a unanimous jury following a three-week trial at Winchester Crown Court. According to a Counter Terrorism Policing news update, Mohamoud was convicted of preparation of acts of terrorism contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. The verdict was returned on 18 August, with details of the investigation published on 24 August.
Investigators said Mohamoud, a security guard who was born in Somalia, travelled there intending to join Daesh, which is proscribed in the United Kingdom. He purchased a ticket on 13 January 2025 for a journey from Heathrow to Somalia via Ethiopia, leaving the UK on 30 January and returning on 3 March. Counter Terrorism Policing South East later used evidence from his electronic devices, travel history and communications to establish the purpose of the journey.
Officers attended Mohamoud’s home on 20 January 2026 and arrested him, seizing a number of digital devices including a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone. Examination of location data from the handset showed that it had been present at various locations in Somalia between January and March 2025. Investigators also recovered a Telegram conversation in which Mohamoud asked for assistance travelling to Somalia so that he could join the “Mujahedeen”. In another message, police said, he expressed an ambition to become a “martyr”.
Further examination of the phone uncovered Daesh propaganda including battlefield footage, executions and beheadings, as well as material produced in a news-style format by the terrorist organisation. Counter Terrorism Policing said the material demonstrated that Mohamoud had adopted an extremist Islamist ideology. Messages recovered following his return to Britain also recorded what investigators described as his continuing intention to commit himself to jihad.
Detective Chief Superintendent Oliver Wright, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East, said, as quoted in the news update: “Mahmoud had become radicalised to adopt an extremist Islamist ideology and travelled to Somalia with the intention of joining Daesh.”
Wright added: “It is important to note that Mahmoud communicated to others about his intentions to travel to commit jihad and become a ‘martyr’.” The spelling of the surname in the quoted police remarks differs from the spelling used elsewhere in the Counter Terrorism Policing account, which identifies the defendant as Mohamed Mohamoud.
The conviction centres on preparation for terrorism rather than an allegation that Mohamoud carried out an attack in the UK. The prosecution case concerned his journey to Somalia, his stated intentions and the digital evidence recovered during the subsequent investigation. Daesh maintains an affiliate in Somalia, while the organisation itself remains proscribed under British terrorism legislation.
Mohamoud was charged in connection with the offence on 26 January 2026, six days after his arrest. He was subsequently tried at Winchester Crown Court, where the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after hearing evidence concerning his travel, communications and extremist material.
Wright also urged members of the public to report concerns where individuals appear to be moving towards extremist violence. He said: “If you become aware of anyone whose behaviour may have changed, who has adopted extreme views and is expressing similar intentions, please ensure you report this to police. Reporting can save lives.”
