British man charged with directing Somalia-based terror group

A British man has been charged with directing the activities of Somalia-based Islamist terrorist group Al Shabaab.

Jermaine Grant, 43, is also accused of attending an Al Shabaab commando training camp in the southern port city of Kismayu, in Somalia, and possession of an AK47 assault rifle for terrorist purposes.

British prosecutors said the charges relate to Grant's alleged involvement with the armed group, which has been linked to al Qaeda, in 2008 and 2009.

"These are serious charges and come as the result of a long-running investigation," acting commander Kris Wright, acting commander of Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London said.

"This case shows we will always pursue anyone suspected of being involved in terrorist activity, no matter where in the world or how long ago it is alleged to have taken place."

Grant is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged with directing the activities of Al Shabaab between 31 December 2007 and 1 January 2010.

He also faces three counts of attending an Al-Shabaab commando training camp, contrary to Section 8 of the Terrorism Act 2006, and two counts of possession of an article (AK47) for terrorist purposes, contrary to Section 57 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's special crime and counter terrorism division, said: "The charges relate to Grant's alleged involvement in 2008 and 2009 with Al Shabaab, a terrorist organisation operating in Somalia.

"Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings."

A 2025 assessment by the UK Government labelled Al Shabaab a "persistent threat" in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, which carries out "high profile attacks that challenge government authority".

It has targeted international aid workers, journalists, business people and non-government organisations who have opposed or resisted it.

The group has claimed responsibility for high-profile attacks outside of Somalia, including the 2019 attack on Nairobi's DusitD2 luxury hotel complex that left 21 people dead, the 2015 shooting at Garissa University in northern Kenya which killed 147 students, and the 2013 attack that killed 67 people at Nairobi's Westgate Shopping Mall.

(c) Sky News 2026: British man charged with directing Somalia-based terror group