Albertan who fought in Syria has pleaded guilty to terrorism

The hearing took place Thursday at the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in Calgary. Judge David Labrenz accepted the guilty plea.

Hussein Sobhe Borhot, 36, pleaded guilty to involvement in an activity of a terrorist group and guilt for the benefit of a terrorist group. He admitted to participating in a kidnapping.

The investigation that led to the filing of the cases lasted seven years and included two undercover operations.

According to an agreed statement of facts presented to the Court, Hussein Borhot fought in Syria from May 2013 to June 2014. He was able to reach this country through Turkey with the help of paid Turkish army officers to bring the warrior.

The Agreed Statement of Facts does not provide information on how he was recruited, but details how Hussein Borhot flew from Calgary on May 9, 2013 to Istanbul, Turkey.

According to the document, he did not inform his wife or father of his intention to travel to Syria. He used a prepaid credit card to book his flights.

Hussein Borhot then traveled to Syria, where he was trained and provided with weapons, including grenades and an AK-47.

Two undercover operations

In two undercover operations that took place from 2016 to 2020, a police officer befriended Hussein Borhot and the latter described to him his actions in the fight in Syria, how he first thought of becoming a suicide bomber, but later changed his mind to be a fighter.

He added that if he had the chance, he would return. For religion, anythinghe said.

Hussein Borhot added that he impressed anyone who taught him his shooting skills, which ranks second among rookies.

In both operations, Hussein Borhot told the officer that he would not kill anyone who did not attempt to kill him, but also said he wanted shooting and jihad.

Kidnapping charges

One day, the undercover agent was invited to dinner with Hussein Borhot who told him that he had gone to a village with his group and kidnapped opposition fighters he believed belonged to the Army.free Syrian.

The next day, back at the camp, Hussein Borhot said his leader told him to turn over one of the victims deemed innocent.

During this mission, Hussein Borhot himself was kidnapped. The Islamic State armed group negotiated an exchange of prisoners and Hussein Borhot was returned to his group.

The first undercover operation ended when the officer told Hussein Borhot that he had to return to his country because of increased surveillance by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The officer reconnected with Hussein Borhot in 2020 and the latter helped him set up the war game call of duty on his video game console PlayStation.

Hussein Borhot called the video game good practice and said it looked like real battles.

In July 2020, investigators filed terrorism charges against him. His cousin Jamal Borhot is also facing charges.

With information from Meghan Grant