By Damian Arugo Jr. | National News
A 22-year-old man standing trial in the United Kingdom has admitted attempting to travel to Somalia to join the Islamic State group, ISIS, after becoming influenced by extremist content he watched on YouTube and TikTok.
Mohamed Mohamoud, who was born in Somalia and moved to Bristol in 2020, is facing allegations of preparing acts of terrorism between October 1, 2024, and March 5, 2025.
Mohamoud made the admission while giving evidence at Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday, although he denied intending to carry out a terrorist attack or assist anyone else in doing so.
When questioned by his barrister, Dominic Thomas, about whether he accepted that he had attempted to join ISIS, Mohamoud replied, “Yes I do.”
Asked what his plea would be if he were charged with that offence, he responded, “Plead guilty.”
The court had earlier heard from prosecutor Naomi Parsons that Mohamoud travelled to Somalia in January 2025 in an attempt to become a “martyr” for ISIS.
According to the prosecution, he was unable to reach the group because of ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the country and returned to the UK in early March.
The prosecution further alleged that Mohamoud used an artificial intelligence chatbot to assist him in attempting to contact ISIS members in Somalia.
After returning to the UK, he allegedly maintained contact with ISIS recruiters and told them, “Any time, you say the word, I will return.”
‘I Was Watching Extreme Videos’
Giving evidence, Mohamoud said he had not been religious before he began watching religious content on YouTube.
He told the court that he later encountered videos on TikTok promoting ISIS, describing the content as “extreme videos” but initially saying they did not directly depict violence.
According to his testimony, some of the videos discussed democracy, socialism and people regarded as “disbelievers.”
Mohamoud said he had been watching videos criticising democracy and other political systems when he encountered content promoting ISIS.
He explained that he became attracted to groups that opposed democracy and eventually commented on one of the videos, expressing his desire to “emigrate” and join ISIS.
Mohamoud moved to Bristol as a teenager to live with his mother and attended college, where he studied English, mathematics and cooking.
He had previously lived in the United Arab Emirates with his stepmother and told the court that he had a difficult relationship with his mother, whom he said he had only seen once since his parents separated when he was three.
The trial is continuing.
