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But the next day, the family realized his cellphone was being used in Turkey and panic set in.

When they called him, he admitted he was there and planned to cross into Syria. The family then contacted Mr. Hamdani.

“He was probably two hours away from the border at that point and you really have to stop them before they leave the plane. Once someone is off the plane in Turkey, they are taken by their handlers,” said Mr. Hamdani.

“He was already off the plane and on the ground in Turkey with his handlers.”

A secret network smuggles recruits across the border to fight in Syria, he said.

Mr. Hamdani phoned the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and CSIS, asking for help. The next day agents visited the family’s apartment.

“The RCMP contacted Turkish authorities. CSIS and RCMP went through his emails, everyone was trying to stop him — but by this time, it was done. It was too little, too late,” Mr. Hamdani said.

Mr. Mohamud’s mother, Asha, then received a text message from him: “I’m in Syria now with my brothers.”

The news struck hard.

“Like all mothers, she is keeping hope alive, but she is bracing for the real possibility that he is dead. She was already dealing with the fact he was not the son that he once was.”

Canadian officials attempted to verify foreign reports of his death on the weekend by matching a photo of a gunman eulogized by jihadists with one of Mr. Mohamud. By Monday they were apparently satisfied and tentatively notified the family. By then, friends had already identified Mr. Mohamud to the National Post.