Anthony Small, a retired British boxing champion, has been accused of attempting to travel to Syria and join ISIS and is now facing terrorism charges.
Small, along with friends Michael Coe and Simon Keeler, was busted in 2014 when law enforcement officials found out the trio had
falsified travel documents, according to the Daily Mail.
“The prosecution's case is they intended to travel to Syria to join and support what is called Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, known as ISIL or ISIS,” prosecutor Richard Whittam said at the start of the trial, adding that Small was a former British and
Commonwealth boxing champion, according to the BBC.
"That is relevant because he was, moving up towards the time of the arrests in November, selling some of his memorabilia, boxing gloves and boots and the like,” Whittam said, implying that Small was selling the items to fund his trip to Syria.
The 33-year-old allegedly planned to join ISIS but called his trip off when he broke his hand two days before he was scheduled to leave, the Daily Mail noted.
Small also allegedly published an online article and video sympathizing with the terrorist group. The article, entitled “Attacks By Muslims in Perspective,” and the video justifies ISIS’ beheadings of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff,
saying it “wasn’t unprovoked,” Metro U.K. reported. To prevent ISIS “retaliation,” Small suggests that the Western world “stop interfering in lands that are not their own."
Small is now facing four charges, including disseminating terrorist publications, supporting a terrorist organization, and conspiracy relating to his falsified documents, according to the Daily Mail. Coe and Keeler were arrested in November after traveling in a lorry stopped by firearm officers.
This is not the first time Small has been suspected of having ties to Islam or to the terrorist group. He reportedly converted to Islam nine years ago at age 24 and is believed to have followed Anjem Choudary, a radical Muslim preacher. There are also allegations that he was a member of Al-Muhajioun/Islam4UK, a banned radical group. Small is often called by his Muslim name, Abdul-Haqq. Small and Coe were reportedly spotted at a demonstration commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11, according to the BBC.
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