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Man gave money to Brussels attack suspect to aid terrorism, jury told Man gave money to Brussels attack suspect to aid terrorism, jury told Man gave money to Brussels attack suspect to aid terrorism, jury told
(about 5 hours later)
The Brussels bombing suspect dubbed “the man in the hat” was led to a secret meeting in a Birmingham forest and handed £3,000 by two men to fund terrorism, a court has heard.The Brussels bombing suspect dubbed “the man in the hat” was led to a secret meeting in a Birmingham forest and handed £3,000 by two men to fund terrorism, a court has heard.
Mohamed Abrini, who is also wanted by French authorities in connection with the Paris attacks last November, made visits to a casino during his trip to the UK between 9 and 16 July 2015, Kingston crown court in south-west London heard on Thursday.Mohamed Abrini, who is also wanted by French authorities in connection with the Paris attacks last November, made visits to a casino during his trip to the UK between 9 and 16 July 2015, Kingston crown court in south-west London heard on Thursday.
Prosecutors allege the 31-year-old Belgian citizen received the payment from the defendant Zakaria Boufassil, 26, and Mohammed Ali Ahmed during his visit to the Midlands from abroad.Prosecutors allege the 31-year-old Belgian citizen received the payment from the defendant Zakaria Boufassil, 26, and Mohammed Ali Ahmed during his visit to the Midlands from abroad.
The Birmingham pair are charged with supplying “a quantity of sterling currency” to Abrini between 1 June 2014 and 16 April 2016 with the intention of committing or assisting another to commit acts of terrorism.The Birmingham pair are charged with supplying “a quantity of sterling currency” to Abrini between 1 June 2014 and 16 April 2016 with the intention of committing or assisting another to commit acts of terrorism.
Boufassil has pleaded not guilty to the charge, but the prosecutor, Max Hill QC, told the jury Ahmed had admitted the same offence on 8 November.Boufassil has pleaded not guilty to the charge, but the prosecutor, Max Hill QC, told the jury Ahmed had admitted the same offence on 8 November.
He said this would become relevant to jurors when determining if the case against Boufassil had been established, adding that the accused denied sharing Ahmed’s intention.He said this would become relevant to jurors when determining if the case against Boufassil had been established, adding that the accused denied sharing Ahmed’s intention.
Hill said there was no doubt the money was handed over with the intention of assisting acts of terrorism. “We suggest that Mr Boufassil committed this offence together with Ahmed, and he is as guilty as his co-defendant Ahmed … That will be for you to decide when you’ve heard all of the evidence,” he told the jury.Hill said there was no doubt the money was handed over with the intention of assisting acts of terrorism. “We suggest that Mr Boufassil committed this offence together with Ahmed, and he is as guilty as his co-defendant Ahmed … That will be for you to decide when you’ve heard all of the evidence,” he told the jury.
The court also heard that Abrini visited at least one casino during his time in the UK, both before and after the alleged cash handover took place, but there “was no clear evidence” that the money had been gambled.The court also heard that Abrini visited at least one casino during his time in the UK, both before and after the alleged cash handover took place, but there “was no clear evidence” that the money had been gambled.
Hill said telecommunications evidence suggested the three men met near Small Heath park in Birmingham on 10 July last year before a “prearranged cash handover meeting” the following afternoon.Hill said telecommunications evidence suggested the three men met near Small Heath park in Birmingham on 10 July last year before a “prearranged cash handover meeting” the following afternoon.
The court heard that Belgian investigators had interviewed Abrini on 20 and 21 April this year and that he told them he had travelled to Syria to visit his brother’s grave.The court heard that Belgian investigators had interviewed Abrini on 20 and 21 April this year and that he told them he had travelled to Syria to visit his brother’s grave.
Hill said that while in Syria, Abrini recalled meeting a man called “Abaaoud” who asked him to collect some money in the UK and supplied him with phone numbers.Hill said that while in Syria, Abrini recalled meeting a man called “Abaaoud” who asked him to collect some money in the UK and supplied him with phone numbers.
Abrini was instructed to travel to Birmingham the day after he arrived in London and to go to the Small Heath park area several times, only to find no one there, the court heard.Abrini was instructed to travel to Birmingham the day after he arrived in London and to go to the Small Heath park area several times, only to find no one there, the court heard.
But on his third day in Birmingham he was led to a forest to collect the money, Hill said.But on his third day in Birmingham he was led to a forest to collect the money, Hill said.
Jurors were told Abrini described Ahmed as the man who guided him to the location and Boufassil as the one who handed over the money in a bag. He said Boufassil told him it had taken so long to organise the meeting because he had to “verify with Syria” that he was not an impostor.Jurors were told Abrini described Ahmed as the man who guided him to the location and Boufassil as the one who handed over the money in a bag. He said Boufassil told him it had taken so long to organise the meeting because he had to “verify with Syria” that he was not an impostor.
The money was withdrawn from a bank account held by Anwar Haddouchi, who previously lived in Birmingham, he said. Hill said Haddouchi was an associate of Ahmed’s and had left the UK before July last year for Syria to fight for Islamic State.The money was withdrawn from a bank account held by Anwar Haddouchi, who previously lived in Birmingham, he said. Hill said Haddouchi was an associate of Ahmed’s and had left the UK before July last year for Syria to fight for Islamic State.
He told the court: “Abrini had come to collect the money in the UK. The destination of the money would certainly include Syria, it would appear Daesh, also known as Islamic State, either to Haddouchi himself or to other fighters.”He told the court: “Abrini had come to collect the money in the UK. The destination of the money would certainly include Syria, it would appear Daesh, also known as Islamic State, either to Haddouchi himself or to other fighters.”
The French national Azzedine Kaddour, 26, has known Haddouchi since he was 15 and said he was like a “big brother”. In a witness statement read to court, he said Haddouchi “cared a lot about money” and received benefits. His wife was also given €500 (£425) a month by her father.The French national Azzedine Kaddour, 26, has known Haddouchi since he was 15 and said he was like a “big brother”. In a witness statement read to court, he said Haddouchi “cared a lot about money” and received benefits. His wife was also given €500 (£425) a month by her father.
The prosecution alleges that benefit payments were still going into Haddouchi’s Lloyds TSB account after he left the country in the summer of 2014.The prosecution alleges that benefit payments were still going into Haddouchi’s Lloyds TSB account after he left the country in the summer of 2014.
A statement from another friend, Ilyass Sakhi, described receiving graphic picture messages from the man’s phone via WhatsApp before eventually changing his number on advice from Belgian police.A statement from another friend, Ilyass Sakhi, described receiving graphic picture messages from the man’s phone via WhatsApp before eventually changing his number on advice from Belgian police.
He said he got messages including images of people dying , Muslim children killed and other corpses for up to a year after he last saw Haddouchi, but could not be sure it was him sending them.He said he got messages including images of people dying , Muslim children killed and other corpses for up to a year after he last saw Haddouchi, but could not be sure it was him sending them.
The trial continues.The trial continues.