Somalian who ‘planned attack’ on Jews found guilty of trying to join ISIS

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.