Man admits attempting to join ISIS after watching YouTube, TikTok videos

Mohamed Mohamoud, a 22-year-old man, has admitted in a UK court that he attempted to join the Islamic State (ISIS) after being influenced by "extreme" videos on YouTube and TikTok. Mohamoud, who moved to Bristol from Somalia in 2020, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court for preparing acts of terrorism between October 2024 and March 2025.

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Yes I do.

Giving evidence, Mohamoud confessed to attempting to travel to Somalia in January 2025 to join ISIS. He denied intending to commit or assist in any terrorist acts. The court heard from prosecutor Naomi Parsons that Mohamoud's attempt to reach the group was thwarted by ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Somalia, leading to his return to the UK in early March. Parsons also alleged that Mohamoud used an AI chatbot to contact ISIS members and told recruiters upon his return, "Any time, you say the word, I will return."

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Plead guilty.

Mohamoud told the court that his interest in religion began after watching videos on YouTube, and he later encountered TikTok content promoting ISIS. He described the videos as "extreme" but not violent, focusing on discussions about democracy, socialism, and perceived "disbelievers." He stated that he came across an ISIS-promoting video while watching content critical of various political systems and commented on it expressing a desire to "emigrate."

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It was extreme videos, not violence, just people sitting there talking.

Mohamoud moved to Bristol as a teenager to live with his mother and studied English, mathematics, and cooking. He previously lived in the UAE with his stepmother and described a difficult relationship with his mother, whom he had seen only once since his parents' separation when he was three. The trial is ongoing.

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What happened was I was watching these videos, these people who do not belong to any group, so I was like ‘yes, these groups who were fighting democracy or whatnot, they are doing something right’.