Briton who fought for IS jailed for 10 years

A BRITISH-BASED terrorist with links to Manchester bomber Salman Abedi was jailed for 10 years yesterday for joining Islamic State in Syria.

Mohammed Abdallah was part of a network of jihadists who mixed with Abedi before his horrific suicide attack at the city’s Arena concert hall in May.

His brother Abdalraouf set up a “hub” of communication for would-be fighters from his home in Manchester.

Abdallah, 26, picked up an AK47 assault rifle and £2,000 on his way to war-torn Syria in 2014, the Old Bailey heard. He had experience in handling heavy-duty machine guns.

The former supermarket worker was arrested when he returned to the UK in September last year.

Abdallah, of Moss Side, Manchester, denied possessing a firearm for terrorist purposes, possessing cash for terrorist purposes and being an IS member. Documents leaked to Sky News revealed he was a registered member of the terrorist organisation.

He was found guilty of all three offences.

Abdallah came to Britain aged three when his family fled the Gaddafi regime in Libya. He returned there in 2011 to fight pro-Gaddafi forces and from there made his way to join IS in Syria.

Jailing Abdallah, Mrs Justice McGowan said he was “totally committed to joining a proscribed organisation and did join IS”.