A 22-year-old man standing trial in the United Kingdom has admitted attempting to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) after being influenced by videos he watched on YouTube and TikTok.
Mohamed Mohamoud, a Somali-born man who moved to Bristol in 2020, made the admission while giving evidence at Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday.
Mohamoud is on trial over allegations that he prepared acts of terrorism between October 1, 2024, and March 5, 2025.
According to the BBC, Mohamoud admitted that he travelled to Somalia in January 2025 in an attempt to join ISIS but denied intending to carry out a terrorist attack or assist anybody else in committing one.
Asked by his barrister, Dominic Thomas, whether he accepted that he had attempted to join ISIS, Mohamoud replied in the affirmative.
When Thomas asked what his plea would be if he were charged with the offence, Mohamoud said he would plead guilty.
The court had earlier heard allegations from prosecutor Naomi Parsons that Mohamoud travelled to Somalia intending to become a “martyr” for ISIS.
Prosecutors said he failed to reach the terrorist organisation because of counter-terrorism operations in Somalia and returned to the UK in early March.
The prosecution further alleged that Mohamoud used an artificial intelligence chatbot to help him establish contact with ISIS members in Somalia.
After returning to the UK, he allegedly maintained contact with ISIS recruiters and indicated his willingness to return to the region.
‘I was watching extreme videos’
Giving evidence, Mohamoud said he was not religious before he began watching religious videos on YouTube.
He told the jury that he later encountered videos on TikTok promoting ISIS.
He described the material as “extreme videos”, but said the content he initially watched did not contain violence.
According to him, the videos focused on issues including democracy, socialism and people regarded by the extremists as “disbelievers”.
Mohamoud said he had also been watching videos attacking democracy and other political systems when he encountered content promoting ISIS.
He told the court that the material influenced his perception of groups opposed to democracy.
He subsequently commented on one of the videos, expressing his desire to “emigrate” and join ISIS.
Mohamoud moved to Bristol as a teenager to live with his mother and attended college, where he studied English, mathematics and cooking.
He had previously lived in the United Arab Emirates with his stepmother.
During his evidence, he also spoke about his difficult relationship with his mother, whom he said he had seen only once since his parents separated when he was three.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
