A man who flew to Syria to fight for a terrorist group and then returned to the UK has been locked up. Isa Giga, 32, was caught and sentenced after a Met Police Counter Terrorism Command probe.
From Heathrow to Syria: The Terror Trail
Giga, from Hounslow, west London, was arrested at Heathrow on 23 May 2024 after returning from Turkey. Back in 2015, he flew from London to Istanbul, then on to southern Turkey’s Adana airport. From there, he crossed into Syria to join Jaysh Al Fath – a brutal alliance including an Al-Qaeda linked faction.
Hard Evidence Cracks Case Wide Open
- Emails and social media from Giga’s own family showed he went to Syria to “fight for Jihad.”
- Flight records and bank transactions backed up the timeline.
- Undercover officers received chilling chats from Giga in June 2016, where he openly admitted to supporting Nusra and craving “martyrdom very soon in the first row.”
Met Commander Issues Stark Warning
“Anyone who returns to the UK after fighting for a terrorist group will be thoroughly investigated, no matter how long it has been,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. “These offenders will face strict monitoring even after prison.”
Old Bailey Delivers Justice
After a two-week trial, Giga was convicted under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Last Friday, the court jailed him for nine years. The message is clear: travel for terrorism, and you’ll pay the price when you come home.
