Man used AI chatbot and flew to Somalia in bid to become ‘martyr’ for Islamic State

A man who travelled to Somalia in a failed bid to join the so-called Islamic State (IS) has been found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism.

Somali-born Mohamed Mohamoud, 22, who moved to Bristol to live with his mother and brother, was convicted of the offence following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

Mohamoud had denied the single charge but admitted attempting to join Islamic State in Somalia (Isis).

The jury convicted the Somali-born defendant after hearing that he flew to the east African country in a bid to join the terrorist organisation.

Naomi Parsons, prosecuting, told the court that Mohamoud travelled to Somalia in January 2025 in a bid to be a “martyr” for Isis.

But he returned to the UK on March 3 after failing to reach the group because of ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

She said: “At some stage whilst living in the UK, he became radicalised. He embraced the ideology of Islamic State.

“And with this came a strong desire return to Somalia and join Isis, to join the ‘Mujahideen’, it literally means one who struggles or a fighter, who operate in the mountainous areas near a city called Bosaso, in the north of the Puntland region.”

“Indeed, not only was it a strong desire, but Mr Mohamoud viewed it as his duty.”

Ms Parsons said the defendant made attempts to find a contact to help him join the terrorist group but having failed to do so, he booked a return flight to Somalia anyway and flew on January 30 2025.

His attempts to join Isis included interacting with an AI chatbot used by Isis recruiters to filter potential new members, the court heard.

She said that despite having a return ticket for March 3, Mahamoud had not planned to return to the UK.

The prosecutor said: “As messages show, Mr Mohamoud had no intention of returning to the UK. Indeed, he aspired not simply to join Isis, but he aspired to martyrdom.”

Ms Parsons said that after failing to join up with Isis because of counter-terrorism operations in the country, he returned to the UK where he continued to keep in contact with the Isis recruiters and told them: “Any time, you say the word, I will return.”

Giving evidence, Mohamoud denied preparing acts of terrorism but admitted attempting to join Isis.

He told the court that he was born in Somalia but his parents separated when he was three years old and he was taken with his younger brother to live with his stepmother in the UAE.

He then lived between Somalia and the UAE until he moved in 2020, at the age of 16 or 17, to live with his mother in Bristol whom he had seen only once since his parents had split up but he said that he did not get on with her.

The defendant said that he went to college where he studied English, maths and cooking but said he was not religious until he started watching YouTube videos by a channel called BlackBeardGuy.

He said he became interested in religion and joining IS after watching “extreme” videos on YouTube and TikTok.