An alleged ISIS guard said to have carried out military patrols for the extremist group has appeared in court charged with terror offences.
Shabazz Suleman, 25, was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport as he returned to Britain from Pakistan.
Suleman is alleged to have manned fortifications called ribats as he performed guard duty and carried out military police patrols for ISIS.
He also received weapons training after travelling to Syria from Turkey, having left the UK in 2014, prosecutors said.
He went missing in 2014 while on a holiday to Turkey with his family, after finishing his A-levels at Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
After his disappearance, the school issued a statement calling him “a very engaging and amiable student who fitted in well, forming good relationships with his peers and staff”.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, wearing a blue sweater and grey tracksuit bottoms.
Suleman, from High Wycombe, stood in the dock, speaking only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the brief hearing.
He was not asked to enter pleas to charges of preparing for acts of terrorism, under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006; membership of a proscribed organisation - namely ISIS - under Section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000; and receiving weapons training, under Section 54 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
His lawyer, Sanjeev Sharma, made no application for bail and Suleman was remanded in custody by Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring.
His next court was scheduled for October 15 at the Old Bailey, in central London.
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed PDK
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 820Nm
Price: Dh683,200
On sale: now
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
The biog
Name: Samar Frost
Born: Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends
Favourite singer: Adele
Leaderboard
15 under: Paul Casey (ENG)
-14: Robert MacIntyre (SCO)
-13 Brandon Stone (SA)
-10 Laurie Canter (ENG) , Sergio Garcia (ESP)
-9 Kalle Samooja (FIN)
-8 Thomas Detry (BEL), Justin Harding (SA), Justin Rose (ENG)
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
