Student who was recruited to ISIS by AI bot before travelling to Somalia to ‘become a martyr’ is jailed for 12 years

Mohamed Mohamoud, a 22-year-old student, has been jailed for preparing acts of terrorism after travelling from Britain to Somalia in an attempt to join Islamic State (IS). The case matters because prosecutors said an automated social media bot connected him with a recruiter, and the judge concluded he would have fought for IS if he had succeeded.

Mohamoud travelled in January last year, telling his family he planned to visit relatives and beaches, but told jurors he wanted to die as a martyr. He returned to the UK in March after counter-terrorism operations thwarted his attempt, yet continued contacting IS recruiters and offered to return. Winchester Crown Court found him guilty after an August trial; the Old Bailey imposed 12 years in prison followed by four years on extended licence.