VideoslCaravanninglBloglTravellBookslGift VoucherslDuke of Edinburgh's AwardlShop by BrandlSign up to our emailsTHIS is the sinister “jihadi kit” of an Asda cashier who abandoned his wife and young child to join an ISIS-linked terror group in the Philippines. Muslim convert Ryan Counsell, 28, was in the advanced stages of planning his trip to fight with terrorists Abu Sayyaf when he was arrested last July. Ryan Counsell was found guilty of four terrorism charges after he was caught travelling to join an ISIS-linked jihadi group in the Philippines Ryan Counsell’s stuffed bag ready for his journey to ‘engage in combat’ The Asda cashier spent almost £900 on military-style boots, camouflage clothing, Kevlar boxer shorts and a cheek pad to be attached to the stock of a rifle He spent almost £900 on military-style boots, camouflage clothing, bullet-proof Kevlar boxer shorts and a cheek pad to be attached to the stock of a rifle – equipment bought so he was ready “to engage in combat”.
Counsell had also booked a return ticket from London to Manila and a connecting flight to Zamboanga, 20 miles from Basiland where ISIS group Abu Sayyaf regularly clash with the Philippine Army. He is facing years behind bars after being found guilty of four terrorism charges at the Old Bailey today. The jihadi – who has shaved off his straggly beard since his arrest – sat emotionless in the dock as the verdicts were passed. His trial heard how married father-of-one, who worked part-time behind the tills at his local supermarket in Nottingham, was arrested at Stansted Airport while waiting for a flight to Eindhoven in Holland en route to Manila. He had booked a week off work but in fact was not expecting to return for some time. Some of the military equipment purchased by Ryan Counsell, which he claimed was for ‘camping’ The part-time Asda checkout worker bought camouflage kit from a website specialising in military clothing and equipment Police raided his home after they were alerted to his online purchases of military equipment, beginning in August 2014.
Cops found military and camping kit and a “wealth of Islamic extremist material”, including copies of the al-Qaeda magazine Inspire, the ISIS version called Dabiq, and lectures by the influential terror preacher Anwar al-Awlaki. Police also found bomb-making instructions, a document of practical advice for travelling to join ISIS and videos showing the decapitation of prisoners by terrorists. A blue suitcase filled with camping equipment and military material was found in a cupboard in his child’s bedroom in the house. Dan Pawson-Pounds, prosecuting, told the trial: “The defendant had a profound and enduring interest in extremist Islam, jihad and the propaganda of Islamic State and other terrorist organisations.” Counsell had searched online for “prostitutes and escort agencies” in Nottingham, as well as “cheap flights from Nottingham to Zamboanga”. Counsell told police the military kit was for playing airsoft – akin to paintballing – and the other equipment was for camping.
He claimed his planned trip to Zamboanga was for “charitable relief work in an aid camp” and denied any intention to join Abu Sayyaf or support for ISIS. The supermarket worker told his trial he had watched terrorist videos because he was “interested” in learning more about propaganda, and claimed messages to his extremist friends were all a bit of fun. He explaining: “If someone asks me about terrorism I’m going to tell them I like a bang in the morning too.” Among the electronic documents found were 22 copies of “Hijrah (migrate) to the Islamic State” from 2015 which provided practical advice for someone wanting to travel to Syria to join ISIS. The material also included ten copies of the first edition of the online magazine Inspire, published by al-Qaeda, including an article titled “Make a bomb in the kitchen of your Mom” which showed how to make a homemade pipe bomb. Police who raided Counsell’s home in Nottingham found ISIS and al-Qaeda propaganda and a bomb-making manual
Counsell married his wife Fatima in May 2012 after meeting her through an Islamic matchmaking service. Fatima was originally from Somalia and her parents lived in the Netherlands. Counsell said he did not tell his wife about his plans for the Phillipines as she was “sceptical” about the life he wanted to live. He claimed his interest in the country was prompted by watching the series “Lives in the Wild” presented by Ben Fogle, about a man who had moved to the islands. The graphic combat videos found on his devices, including one which showed an Al-Qaeda suicide attack on an army base, were part of a “catalogue of propaganda” which he said he planned to “tastefully edit” and post online. Counsell joked in a WhatsApp group conversation with four others on March 22 last year, the day of the Brussels terror attacks: “I heard in Holland’s cafes they’re always on high alert.” But he dismissed his gloating and told the jury: “We tended to joke about terrorism a lot.
“If someone asks me about terrorism I’m going to tell them I like a bang in the morning too.” The group also discussed the shooting down of a Russian plane in Turkish airspace in November 2015, with Counsell saying afterwards: “So happy. Saw video of jet going down. Saw video of dead Russian pilot. Saw video of TOW (anti-tank missile) on rescue heli look.” A jury of five women and seven men took two days to find him guilty of three counts of possessing a document containing terrorist information and one count of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts. He will be sentenced next month. We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368SHOPPINGMonday - Friday9am - 8pmSaturday9am - 7pmSunday10.30am - 5pmIndividual stores may varyDINE `TIL LATE Home Back Asda Living brings together quality and value fashion with our George range available in store, health and beauty products, electrical goods, furniture, CDs, DVDs and mobile phones.