Briton convicted of Syria-related terror offence

LONDON — A 31-year-old man on Tuesday became the first person to be convicted in Britain of terror offences related to the Syria conflict.

Mashudur Choudhury, from Portsmouth on the southern English coast, travelled to Syria in October with the intention of attending a terrorist training camp, his trial heard.

He was arrested at London’s Gatwick Airport on his return later that month and on Tuesday was found guilty of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts.

The father of two will be sentenced on June 13.

Prosecuting lawyer Alison Morgan had told the jury: “The evidence clearly shows that this defendant planned for and then travelled to Syria with the intention of attending a training camp.”

“The training was to include the use of firearms and the purpose of fighting was to pursue a political, religious or ideological cause.”

“At times in his discussions with others the defendant described his intention to become a martyr.”

In a Skype message to another British jihadist, Choudhury suggested that the group he was travelling to Syria with, which included four others from the Portsmouth area, should be called the “Britani brigade Bangladeshi bad boys”, the court heard.

Details of text messages exchanged between Choudhury and his wife were also read out to the jury, including one in which she wrote to him: “Go die in battlefield.”

“Go die, I really mean it just go. I’ll be relieved. At last. At last.”