Computer Science student used his loan to try and join ISIS

Police said student finance made him “financially able” to buy terrorist equipment


19-year-old Cubeyda Jama was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison this morning after being deemed at “risk of radicalisation.”

The Middlesex student was found in possession of “extremist material” at Stansted Airport in February, shortly after boarding a plane to Bucharest.

Police were alerted to Jama when the student was found Googling videos on “paths to Isis” and downloading maps of Turkey.

(Image taken from Metropolitan police)

Jama was carrying a rucksack containing a guide on “39 ways to participate in Jihad”, 13 copies of Dabiq magazine (ISIS’s propaganda magazine legitimising self-sacrifice and glorifying violence) and an Arabic-written pledge of allegiance to their leader.

A HP laptop, a solar-powered charger and a military jacket were some of the purchased terrorist equipment said to be aided by his student loan.

(Image taken from Metropolitan Police)

Later, a USB was found containing videos of public executions perpetrated by the terror group, and instructions on how to reach their territory.

Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, said yesterday evening: “He had trawled through reams of terrorist material and there is no doubt in my mind what his intentions were if he had made it to Syria.

“By working so effectively with Essex Police, we ensured he did not make that journey.

“Today’s sentence should serve as a timely reminder to anyone thinking of travelling for the purposes of terrorism.”