London-born student 'tried to smuggle 20,000 euros inside her underwear to fund jihadists fighting in Syria'

A university student was caught trying to smuggle vast quantities of euros in her underwear through Heathrow to give to a British terrorist fighting in Syria, the Old Bailey heard today.

Nawal Msaad, 27, had a stash of 20,000 euro in notes wrapped up in clingfilm as she prepared to board a flight to Istanbul from Heathrow, jurors heard.

The court was told Msaad, from Holloway, north London, had agreed to be a 'trusted courier' for her close friend Amal El-Wahabi, also 27.

The money was allegedly to be taken to Turkey at the request of El-Wahabi's husband, Aine Davis, who had joined fighters in Syria.

University student Nawal Masaad, 27, pictured arriving at court today, was caught at Heathrow with euro notes wrapped in clingfilm in her underwear, London's Old Bailey heard

Msaad was stopped by police at the departure gate and the cash, which had been

hidden in a condom in her pants, was found when they searched her.

Msaad and El-Wahabi, of north west London, are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of funding terrorism. They deny the charge.

Prosecutor Mark Dennis, QC, said the women, both of whom were born in London, had been close friends for years.

Davis left London in July last year to pursue the jihadist cause but had maintained regular contact with his wife, with whom he has two young sons, he said.

The 30-year-old, who was also born in London with roots in Gambia, converted to Islam six or seven years ago, the court heard.

Mr Dennis said: 'It is alleged in this case that the money that the second defendant was attempting to take out to Turkey was money that had been raised in this country and had been destined to support the jihadist cause which Davis was now pursuing with like-minded supporters.

'The allegation in this case is that each defendant, when becoming concerned in the arrangement of the smuggling of this money to Turkey at the behest of Davis, knew of, at the very least had reasonable cause to suspect, that the money was or might be used for the purposes of terrorism.'

Msaad had been studying human resources at London Metropolitan University in Aldgate at the time her friend had allegedly offered her 1,000 euros to be a courier.

On January 16, she set off for Heathrow airport for the three-day trip but was stopped by police at the departure gate and questioned about why she was going to Istanbul.

Friends: Msaad was allegedly offered 1,000 euros by Amal El-Wahabi, 27, pictured, to be a courier to Turkey

She said it was for a 'short break' and that she was buying gold for her mother.

She said she had 20,000 euros 'around me'.

Mr Dennis said: 'She was then taken to a private room where she pulled out a roll of banknotes from inside her underwear and handed it across to the officers. The banknotes were tightly rolled and were wrapped in cling film.

'It would appear that it would have been further hidden inside her body, wrapped in a condom.'

There were 38 500 euro notes, four 200 euro notes and two 100 euro notes, totalling 20,000 euros.

The court heard how the arrangements were made in the days before in phone calls and WhatsApp messages between El-Wahabi and her husband Davis and her friend Msaad.

On the day Msaad was arrested, police went to El-Wahabi's home where they seized mobile phones.

Court: Jurors at London's Old Bailey, pictured, heard that the money was destined to help jihadists in Syria

In police interviews, Msaad declined to explain the money, and would only say 'No comment'.

El-Wahabi gave three short statements to police maintaining that an iPod, Kindle and iPad found at her address belonged to 'the father of my children' who was now living in Turkey.

She denied knowledge of any terrorist activities or their funding, but material recovered from her mobile phone was at odds with her claim not to know about her husband's active support for the violent jihadist cause, the court heard.

Davis had sent her photos including a 'selfie' while he had been away, jurors were told.

There were also videos from Davis to his wife containing jihadist propaganda.

One sent in September last year showed a 'boy martyr' aged between ten and 13 holding a Kalashnikov rifle, Mr Dennis said.

The court heard that when Davis left, El-Wahabi - who was living on benefits, had been reluctant to follow and leave behind her friends and family.

But by December last year she was coming around to the idea of joining him wherever he was, jurors were told.

DM