Three British individuals have refuted allegations of planning to journey to Syria to affiliate with the Islamic State terrorist group in a group chat named “Lads holiday.” Chafik Aziz, 18, Muhammed Bham, 19, and Oliver Rea, 24, stood trial at the Old Bailey facing charges of engaging in terrorist activities preparation.
Denying the accusations, all three individuals pleaded not guilty in connection to activities occurring between March and November 2025. Allegedly, the trio composed farewell letters to their families, conducted extensive research, reserved flights to Turkey, renewed or obtained passports, sold personal belongings, and resigned from their employment.
According to court proceedings, the men researched the attire and camouflage utilized by the Islamic State, strategies to access IS-controlled regions, and shared tactics on avoiding detection and arrest. Additionally, they are accused of engaging in group discussions on Signal under the names “AirBNB Buddies” and “Lads Holiday,” where they purportedly encouraged each other to join the Islamic State.
The charges against the defendants claim they researched necessary equipment, gear, and weapons for their trip, as well as methods to procure them, in addition to acquiring new passports and financial resources. Furthermore, Oliver Rea admitted to two counts of seeking support for IS on TikTok and expressing allegiance to Al Qaida and IS on the platform, while refuting three charges of disseminating terrorist materials on TikTok.
The defendants entered their pleas at the Old Bailey in front of Judge Mark Lucraft KC. Aziz was physically present, Rea participated via video link from Belmarsh prison, and Bham was situated at Doncaster jail. The judge set a subsequent hearing for May 15 before their trial, scheduled at the Old Bailey commencing on November 30.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Aziz gestured and blew a kiss to his co-defendants. Aziz, hailing from Wallington in south London, Bham from Dewsbury in Yorkshire, and Rea from Arnold in Nottinghamshire, were remanded in custody.
