British Islamist jailed for 12 years

Imran Khawaja admitted preparing to commit terrorist acts

Imran Khawaja: faked his death in the hope of being able to return to Britain undetected. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
Imran Khawaja: faked his death in the hope of being able to return to Britain undetected. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

A Briton who helped an Islamist group in Syria record videos of severed heads and then faked his own death in the hope of being able to return home undetected was sentenced to 12 years in jail today.

Imran Khawaja (27) of Southall, west London, travelled to a training camp in Syria in January last year and joined Rayat al Tawheed, which became aligned with Islamic State, Woolwich Crown Court heard.

Khawaja, who was arrested at Dover port last June, admitted preparing to commit terrorist acts, receiving training in the use of firearms and attending a place for terrorist training. – (Reuters)