Convicted terrorist who attempted to leave UK to join jihadists blames Brexit,

His lawyer said that “he wanted to leave the UK to live a humble, simple life, in a Muslim community. He discussed going to Somalia. He considered going to Bosnia, and he considered the Philippines. He wanted to live in a community under Sharia law with what he saw as an idyllic way of life.”Stonings, beheadings, amputations, oppression of women, non-Muslims, gays — really, who wouldn’t find that idyllic?“After Brexit there were divisions in his community in Nottingham, he was concerned about the way ordinary people were reacting to ordinary Muslims. So with that background he was looking for a different way of life.”

He had bomb-making instructions and combat gear, and he tried to join a jihad group. An “ordinary Muslim.”

Do British authorities have any intention of studying why so many converts to Islam get the crazy idea that their new religion requires them to commit treason and mass murder? Why, of course not. That would be “Islamophobic.” Did anyone in Ryan Counsell’s circle of relatives, friends, coworkers, or acquaintances try to prevent him from converting to Islam? Why, certainly not. That would have been “racist.”

A convicted terrorist who left his wife and young family to fight in the Philippines has blamed Brexit for his behaviour.Ryan Counsell, 28, said he wished to escape the UK political climate and seek an “idyllic life” under Sharia law.He was in the final stages of planning his trip to fight with terrorist group Abu Sayyaf when he was arrested last July, and later sentenced to eight years in prison.Speaking to Woolwich Crown Court, Counsell, who worked at an Asda supermarket in Nottingham, claimed there had been increased tension within the local Muslim community after the Brexit vote, sparking his decision to leave.

He was convicted last month on three counts of possessing documents with terrorist material, and one count of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts.During his four-week trial, a jury head how Counsell spent almost £900 on military-style boots, camouflage clothing, Kevlar boxer shorts and a cheek pag to be attached to the stock of a rifle “to engage in combat”.Counsell had also booked a return ticket from London to Manila an a connecting flight to Zamboanga, 20 miles from Basilan where Isis allegiance groups are situated….

His barrister John Kearney said Counsell was “a bit odd” but not violent or an extremist.Mr Kearney said: “He wanted to leave the UK to live a humble, simple life, in a Muslim community. He discussed going to Somalia. He considered going to Bosnia, and he considered the Philippines.“He wanted to live in a community under Sharia law with what he saw as an idyllic way of life.”“After Brexit there were divisions in his community in Nottingham, he was concerned about the way ordinary people were reacting to ordinary Muslims. So with that background he was looking for a different way of life….

Conducting a search of Counsell’s home last year, police found military and camping equipment and a ‘wealth of Islamic extremist material’, including copies of the al-Qaeda magazine Inspire, Isis magazine Dabiq, and lectures by Anwar al-Awlaki, an influential extremist preacher.Bomb-making instructions were also discovered at the property, along with a document of practical advice for travelling to join Isis and videos showing hostage decapitations.

“The defendant had a profound and enduring interest in extremist Islam, jihad and the propaganda of Islamic State and other terrorist organisations,” said Prosecutor Dan Pawson-Pounds….Counsell, of Russell Road, Hyson Green, Nottingham, was sentenced to eight years in jail for preparing acts of terrorism, and 18 months served concurrently for possessing a document containing terrorist information.