A 22-year-old Somali man living in Britain is on trial accused of preparing terrorist acts and attempting to join the Islamic State group, ISIS, using an artificial intelligence chatbot to make contact with the organization, according to the Daily Mail.
Prosecutors told the court that Mohamed Mohamud sought to travel to Somalia between October 1, 2024, and March 5, 2025, with the aim of joining the local ISIS branch there. Prosecutor Naomi Parsons told jurors that Mohamud had been radicalized while living in the United Kingdom and had adopted the jihadist organization's ideology.
Contact through TikTok, Telegram and a chatbot
According to the indictment, Mohamud first made contact with a person who allegedly recruited members for ISIS through TikTok. He was then added to encrypted channels on the messaging app Telegram.
Prosecutors said that through these channels he received propaganda material, including videos of extreme violence intended to glorify the organization and encourage violent acts.
Prosecutors also alleged that Mohamud used an artificial intelligence chatbot on Telegram to seek information about how to communicate with ISIS members. An anti-terrorism police officer testified that the chatbot was activated with a specific command and provided automated responses to users. Prosecutors argued that communication with the chatbot has become part of a vetting process for people seeking to approach ISIS, used alongside contact with real individuals.
A trip to Somalia with a return ticket he never planned to use
Mohamud, who comes from the Puntland region of northern Somalia and moved to Bristol in 2020 to live with his mother and brother, booked a flight and traveled to Somalia on January 30, 2025, the court heard.
He had bought a return ticket for March 3, but prosecutors said he had no intention of coming back to Britain and had purchased the return ticket only to avoid raising his family's suspicions. His mother had reportedly expressed concern that he had been influenced by extremist organizations.
While in Somalia, Mohamud stayed at his grandmother's house. According to the indictment, he continued to communicate online with people linked to ISIS, searching for a way to reach the areas where the organization operates.
Military operations blocked his path
Prosecutors said his plan failed because of extensive counter-terrorism operations by Somali authorities, who had blocked roads leading to areas where ISIS is active.
His contacts reportedly told him that reaching the organization's bases was practically impossible because of the fighting and airstrikes in the region. Instead of an active role, he was offered a different, supporting role, which, according to the indictment, he did not accept.
Mohamud eventually returned to the United Kingdom on his scheduled flight and was later arrested. Police seized his mobile phones, which provided much of the evidence presented at the trial.
Mohamud denies the charge
Mohamud, who is following the proceedings with the help of a Somali-language interpreter, denies the charge of preparing terrorist acts.
The trial is continuing.
