Man went to Somalia 'in attempt to join Isis'

A man allegedly used an Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot to help him make contact with the Islamic State group in Somalia in a failed bid to become a martyr, a court has heard.

Mohamed Mohamoud, 22, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of preparing acts of terrorism between 1 October 2024 and 5 March 2025.

Naomi Parsons, prosecuting, told the jury on Tuesday Mohamoud, who is from Somalia, arrived in the UK in 2020 to join his mother and brother living in Bristol.

The court heard Mohamoud struggled to find a "guide" to joining the terrorist group after arriving in Somalia in 2025 so used an AI bot used to make contact, saying he wanted to "join the Mujahideen".

Mohamoud, who was assisted in the dock by a Somali interpreter, denies the charge.

Parsons told the jury: "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 - which 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 Mohamoud viewed it as his duty."

Mohamoud, of Francombe Grove in Bristol, is from the Puntland area of north Somalia.

Parsons said the defendant made attempts to find a contact to help him join the terrorist group while in the UK but failed, and then booked a return flight to Somalia and flew out on 30 January 2025.

But despite having a return ticket for 3 March, she said, Mohamoud had not planned to come back.

Parsons said: "As messages show, Mohamoud had no intention of returning to the UK. Indeed, he aspired not simply to join Isis, but he aspired to martyrdom."

She added: "It seems the return ticket was simply to put his family members off the scent.

"His family were suspicious of him, his mother told him she thought he had been 'brainwashed by Al-Shabaab', another terrorist organisation operating in Somalia."

When Mohamoud arrived in Somalia, the Puntland government was involved in counter-terrorism operations.

Parsons said that the defendant bought supplies for his mission including hiking boots and a solar-powered battery pack, but struggled to find a "guide" to joining Isis and messaged the AI bot for help.

She told the jury that he was put in contact with two recruiters but was told by one, called Abu Ali: "Did you realise we're actually in the middle of a war? You realise how dire things have got?

"Air strikes keep pounding and there's fierce combat happening as we speak. You're following all this?"

Parsons said that Mohamoud replied: "Yeah brother, I am fully aware. I'm longing for martyrdom. Honestly, there's no better moment than right now."

In response, Mohamoud was told it would be difficult to join Isis because of the war, Parsons said, adding he then decided to fly back to the UK.

She said that he continued to keep in contact with the Isis recruiters and told them: "Anytime, you say the word - I will return."

The trial continues.

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