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Student hid stash of rolled up bank notes 'in her knickers' to fund jihadists fighting in Syria

A student hid a stash of rolled up bank notes in her knickers to fund jihadists fighting in Syria, the Old Bailey heard today.

The jury heard how 27-year-old Nawal Msaad was caught with 20,000 euro concealed in her underwear as she tried to get on a flight to from Heathrow to Istanbul.

The jury was told Nawal Msaad hid bundles of cash in her knickers Credit: Press Association Images

Nawal Msaad agreed to be a trusted courier for her close friend Amal El-Wahabi. The money was to be taken to Turkey at the request of El-Wahabi's husband Aine Davis - who had joined fighters in Syria.

Credit: PA

Nawal Msaad was stopped by police after the cash, which had been concealed in a condom, fell out into her underwear.

She was taken to a private room where she pulled out a roll of banknotes from inside her underwear and handed it across to the officers. The banknotes were tightly rolled and were wrapped in cling film.

It would appear that it would have been further hidden inside her body, wrapped in a condom.

– Mark Dennis QC, Prosecutor

The Old Bailey heard how the following bank notes were found in her underwear.

  • Thirty eight 500 euro notes
  • Four 200 euro notes
  • Two 100 euro notes

Nawal Msaad had been studying human resources at London Metropolitan University at the time her friend had allegedly offered her 1,000 euro to be a courier.

The Old Bailey heard that on January 16 she set off for Heathrow airport for the three-day trip but when she approached the departure gate she was stopped by police.

After showing her passport, she was asked why she was going to Istanbul. She replied it was for a "short break" and added that she was buying gold for her mother.

Nawal Msaad from Holloway and Amal El-Wahabi, from north west London, are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of funding terrorism. They deny the charge.