Chemistry teacher pleads guilty to two Syria and Isis-related terror charges

Jamshed Javeed, from Levenshulme, admitted that he had planned to join Isis in Syria to help rebels fight against Bashar al-Assad, but that he no longer supported the militant group

Schoolteacher Jamshed Javeed has plead guilty to two Syria-related terror charges (Getty)

A secondary school teacher from south Manchester has admitted planning to travel to Syria in order to join the Islamic State (Isis) in its fight against President Bashar al-Assad and has plead guilty to two-terror related charges.

Jamshed Javeed, 30, from Levenshulme, could now be facing time in prison for engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts between 1 July 2013 and 12 March 2014.

Appearing at Woolwich crown court in south-east London, Javeed denies that he is an extremist and insists he no longer supports Isis’ aims.

He said he “has never supported and does not support the aims of Isis as now revealed and understood”.

Javeed’s first charge relates to the funding and purchasing of equipment, while the second count alleges that he made travel plans, obtained a passport and purchased equipment with the view to committing terrorist acts during the time previously stated.

The chemistry teacher, who taught at Sharples High School in Bolton, was described by police as a previously “law-abiding” married father-of-two who “started to support the Isis cause” from August last year.

According to the BBC, at the time of his arrest he said he was frustrated that the British government was not doing enough to help those affected by the civil war in Syria.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole, Head of the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, said: “Both his appearance and behaviour started to change and in a short space of time he started to support the Isis cause and those planning to travel to Syria.

“His family grew suspicious and were clearly intent on stopping him, but he ignored their pleas and told them he was determined to go through with his plans to travel to Syria.”

He will be sentenced in December.

Additional reporting by agencies