Barber jailed for giving Covid loans to IS in Syria

A convicted rapist who sent at least £10,000 of Covid bounce-back loans to Islamic State in Syria was jailed for 12 years yesterday.

Tarek Namouz, 43, who ran a barber’s shop in Hammersmith, west London, thanked the judge but shouted “may Allah destroy you” at police officers sitting in court after he was sentenced.

He received relief grants from Hammersmith and Fulham council during the pandemic but instead of using the cash to support his business he sent the funds to jihadist terrorists in the Middle East via a money transfer.

He was also convicted of two counts of possessing terrorist information.