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Six men charged in Syria fraud investigation

07 May 2015 17:28 (UTC +04:00)

Officers from the force raided six addresses in London and another in Luton while investigating what it describes a “large-scale fraud” linked to UK extremists intending to travel to Syria. The suspects have been arrested for conspiracy to commit fraud and money-laundering while the woman is being investigated for money-laundering alone.

The suspects have been identified as Makzhumi Abukar, 23, of Holloway; Mohammed Sharif Abokar, 27, of Islington; Sakaria Aden, 21, of Stoke Newington; Mohamed Dahir, 22, of Finsbury Park; Yasser Abukar, 23, of Holloway; and Ibrahim Anderson, 38, of Luton, Bedfordshire.

This is believed to be part of an ongoing enquiry into claims that the suspects were cold-calling and targeting vulnerable and elderly victims while impersonating a police officer.

Scotland Yard said: “Members of the public are strongly advised, if you receive a call like this about your bank account from someone claiming to be a police officer, hang up the phone, wait at least five minutes to make sure the phone line has cleared, or use another phone line, before ringing the phone number on your bank card.”

Officers are continuing to search seven addresses while the men remain detained in police custody. Reports suggest the woman has been released on bail.

A 46-year-old woman has also been arrested at one of the London addresses under section 2 of the Child Abduction Act 1984 in relation to a young girl who is believed to have travelled to Syria.

The woman has been bailed.

Two women in their early twenties were also arrested earlier this year in relation to this case but have been released on bail. The young girl’s whereabouts is currently unknown.

At least 600 Britons are estimated to have travelled to Syria to join ISIL since 2011. The takfiri terrorist group, with members from several Western countries, controls vast areas of Syria and Iraq. It has been carrying out horrific acts of violence such as public decapitations and crucifixions against all communities such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.