Man who wore Hamas, Islamic Jihad t-shirt in Golders Green admits terror offences
Feras Al Jayoosi wore t-shirts supporting two proscribed terror organisations while in the heart of Jewish north London
A man who wore t-shirts supporting banned Palestinian groups in Golders Green has admitted terror offences.
Feras Al Jayoosi, 34, pleaded guilty to four counts of wearing an article supporting a proscribed organisation at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
The charges relate to him wearing t-shirts supporting Hamas Izz al-Din al Qassem Brigades – the military wing of the Palestinian organisation Hamas – and Palestine Islamic Jihad.
Both groups are proscribed as terrorist organisations in the UK.
Three of the charges relate to Al Jayoosi wearing the garments in Golders Green – an area of north London with a large Jewish population – on June 8 and 9 this year.
The fourth relates to an incident at Barbury Castle, an Iron Age hill fort in Wiltshire, on May 30 this year.
Al Jayoosi, from Swindon, stood in the dock to confirm his name, date of birth and address before pleading guilty to the charges.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring adjourned sentencing to December 17 for reports to be prepared.
“These are difficult cases to sentence,” he said.
“There is a fine line between support for a legitimate cause and support for a proscribed organisation and you have entered your pleas on that basis.”
He released Al Jayoosi, who the court heard has been diagnosed with autism, on conditional bail.
A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust, said: “Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are terrorist organisations and the presence of a man walking round Golders Green openly supporting these terrorist groups while wearing a large backpack was understandably alarming.
“This was especially the case coming so soon after the huge rise in antisemitism and anti-Jewish extremism during the recent conflict in Israel. He was caught due to the swift action and cooperation between the security guards in Golders Green, CST’s National Security Control Centre and counter-terrorism police and we are grateful to the police and CPS for securing this conviction.”
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