Woman cleared of smuggling money for Syria in underwear

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A woman accused of trying to smuggle 20,000 euros (£15,800) in her underwear to a Briton fighting in Syria has been found not guilty of funding terrorism. Nawal Msaad, 27, from north London, was stopped at Heathrow Airport as she prepared to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey, on 16 January.

Amal El-Wahabi, 27, who was accused of trying to get her to smuggle the money, was found guilty of funding terrorism. Prosecutors said El-Wahabi’s husband had joined rebels fighting in Syria. Ms Msaad, who was a first year student at London Metropolitan University at the time of her arrest, had denied being an Islamist extremist, saying she had been duped by El-Wahabi.

She said she had hidden the cash to keep it safe – but said she had only put it under the waist strap of her leggings. As she was acquitted, Ms Msaad sobbed in the dock, before running out of court. Speaking outside London’s Old Bailey, she said was was “relieved” but said she was “physically drained and mentally weak”.