Blackburn student convicted of terrorism offences Published duration 10 November 2015

image caption Ednane Mahmood was convicted of three terrorism offences

A student who attempted to travel to Syria to fight for so-called Islamic State has been convicted of terrorism offences.

Ednane Mahmood was found guilty of planning acts of terrorism and disseminating terrorist publications at Manchester Crown Court.

The 19-year-old, from Blackburn in Lancashire, fled his home after stating his desire to "fight abroad for Allah".

Mahmood was remanded in custody for sentencing on 11 December.

He had denied providing internet links to others with speeches and propaganda that encouraged acts of terrorism.

'Violent imagery'

Mahmood, who was studying Arabic at university, downloaded graphic videos including that of the beheading of David Haines and aid worker Alan Henning kneeling on the ground after his kidnap, the court had heard.

He searched "British man beheaded" on his laptop before downloading the video, the jury was told.

image copyright PA/BBC image caption Alan Henning and David Haines were killed after being kidnapped by the Islamic State group in Syria while on aid missions

The prosecution said Mahmood, "undeterred by this graphic and violent imagery", began looking up cheap flights to Bulgaria and Turkey.

On 18 September 2014, he left his home to board a flight from Manchester Airport to Bulgaria, leaving a letter addressed "to family".

image copyright Greater Manchester Police image caption Ednane Mahmood left a letter for his family before fleeing the country

Part of the two page handwritten note read: "I have left comfort and luxury in order to strive, struggle and fight in the cause of the All-mighty.

"You may never understand, or you may understand why I have left, I have gone to seek the Pleasure of Allah and no one else. I do not care what anyone will think of me."

The court had heard his family was unaware of his intentions and on the day he fled had reported him missing to police.

Before he reached Syria, Mahmood's brother persuaded him to come back to the UK via communications over Twitter.

Mahmood's interest in Syria, Jihad and Islamic State was said to have developed over time from 2012, the jury heard.

In his defence, Mahmood claimed he wanted to travel to Syria to "help the Syrian people" and had an interest in the country "from the beginning of the war, because of all the suffering".

Speaking after the case, Det Ch Supt Tony Mole said: "The message I can give is very clear - Isis are a terrorist organisation.

"The propaganda that this organisation puts out can be quite seductive. He was distributing material to other people who could be influenced.