Somalian who ‘planned attack’ on Jews found guilty of trying to join ISIS
Court hears how Somalian Aweys Shikhey allegedly discussed killing former PM David Cameron, the Queen, and targeting Jewish people in London
A delivery driver who discussed killing members of Tottenham’s Jewish community and attacking White Hart Lane, has been found guilty of attempting to join Islamic State, a court has heard.
Somalian Aweys Shikhey allegedly talked about killing former prime minister David Cameron and the “old woman Elizabeth”, as well as shooting Jewish people and launching an AK47 attack at White Hart Lane, then-home to Tottenham Hotspur football club.
The Old Bailey heard how Shikhey, 38, led a double life and dreamed of travelling to take part in violent jihad after moving to Tottenham, north London, which has a significant Jewish population.
He tried to raise money by applying for various loans, securing £10,000 from Barclays for a “wedding”, jurors were told. In the spring of 2017, he borrowed more money from his boss to help him visit his two wives and children in Holland and Kenya, the court heard. But the prosecution claimed his ultimate aim before his arrest in May last year was to travel to Istanbul, and then further east from there.
His terrorist mindset was allegedly revealed in encrypted chat on Threema and Telegram with a fellow Somalian living in Kenya.
Shikhey was arrested at Stansted airport in May last year before boarding a flight to Istanbul, with an onward route planned into IS-held territory. His terrorist mindset was revealed in encrypted chat on Threema and Telegram with a fellow Somalian in Kenya.
Abdirahman Idris Hassan’s computer had been examined after he was arrested for alleged terrorism offences in September 2016.
The pair talked about killing the then prime minister David Cameron and “the old woman Elizabeth”, in apparent reference to the Queen.
Shikhey told Hassan three or five people were needed to “carry out a bloody attack” and it would be best to find AK47s and other automatic weapons.
In reference to White Hart Lane, home to Tottenham Hotspur football club, he added: “They could have been taken to Stamford Hill and when people leave from their game.”
The defendant also told Hassan there were “a lot of Jews” in the area of Stamford Hill in north London and said it was “good to shoot them live”, the court heard.
Shikhey, who has a Dutch passport, denied preparing terrorist acts on or before May 23 last year but declined to give evidence in his defence.
A jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for a day to find him guilty.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
