The Sun, on UK Politics, 25 October 2026

3.0out of 10Minor

Senior ISIS-linked terrorist, 43, ‘smuggled himself into UK on back of lorry’

Tap a highlight to see why it matters.2 findings

Comment now Next A TERRORIST who plotted to kidnap a British diplomat . Zana Abdul Rahman Rahim, 43, arrived to Dover in June despite being subject to a UK-wide ban over his chilling links to an ISIS-affiliated terror cell. Zana Abdul Rahman Rahim, 43, has smuggled himself into the country on the back of a lorry Credit: Police Handout He helped to run an Isis-affiliated terror network Credit: Alamy Advertisement Rahim was discovered after being pulled over by West Yorkshire police for a broken light on his car.

After running a background check, officers discovered the man’s disturbing history . Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. In 2015 the man was jailed for seven and a half years in Italy for his role as a spokesman and strategist for an Isis-affiliated terror cell.

He was part of a larger terror network that plotted to attack and kidnap British and Norwegian ambassadors. Read more UK News STREET ATTACK Man in his 30s in critical condition after assault on busy city centre street CANAL HUNT Frantic search for missing teen, 19, as rescue teams dive in canal & deploy dogs They also discussed smuggling missiles amongst other weapons into Europe. Rahim worked as a second-in-command for the founder of the Rawti Shax network found – Najmadin Faraj Ahmad – while he was behind bars in Norway .

Ahmad, also known as Mullah Krekar, was closely connected to al-Qaeda and had hoped to overthrow the government of Kurdistan to make way for an Islamic State. According to Italian court documents, the group planned to kidnap diplomats and barter for their release. Advertisement Most read in The Sun 'QUIT UK' Villagers to hold referendum to leave UK over plan to move refugees into RAF base CLAMP CLIMBDOWN Reforms for migrants seeking permanent residence face being watered down GREEN RAP Greens branded 'racist' by major Jewish organisation after passing Zionism motion DAVID WOODING We had an 'honest discussion' about the EU, Andy… it was called a referendum Rahim worked to keep the cell running while Krekar was locked up, coordinating finances and communications.

While living in Derby and working as a car washer, Rahim was arrested in part of a larger police sting across Europe in 2015. He was sent to Italy with his accomplices and jailed. In May of this year, Rahim travelled to France having completed his sentence. He made a number of attempts to cross into the UK, before eventually succeeding in June. Advertisement As he was subject to an exclusion order banning him from Britain, he is currently in custody and will be sentenced on October 30.

The Home Office has confirmed his deportation will be sought at the earliest opportunity. Comment now

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What we found (2)

The Sun reports that Zana Abdul Rahman Rahim, jailed in Italy in 2015 for his role in a Rawti Shax cell, entered the UK in breach of an exclusion order and awaits sentence. Its headline and opening line say he personally plotted to kidnap a British ambassador, while the body says only that the wider network or group did. The body also states the lorry crossing as fact, where other coverage calls it alleged. Both problems are minor; the conviction and court details are sourced.

  1. Headline goes beyond the article

    Minor

    “who plotted to kidnap British ambassador”

    Why this matters
    The headline says Rahim himself plotted to kidnap the British ambassador.
    The impression it gives
    A reader takes it that Rahim personally planned the kidnapping of the ambassador.
    The context
    The Sun's own body says only that he was part of a larger network that plotted, and that the group planned kidnappings. His conviction was for a role as spokesman and strategist. The Express says members of the group discussed kidnapping prominent figures.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“He was part of a larger terror network that plotted to attack and kidnap British and Norwegian ambassadors.”
    • Elsewhere in the article“the group planned to kidnap diplomats and barter for their release”
    • Daily Express reported“members of the group discussed kidnapping prominent figures, including the British ambassador, to secure his release”Isis-linked terrorist who plotted to kidnap British ambassador enters UK (opens in a new tab)

    Show it in the article

  2. States one side's claim as fact

    Minor

    “managed to smuggle himself into the UK on the back of a lorry”

    Why this matters
    In its own voice The Sun states as fact how Rahim crossed, though its own headline puts the same words in quotation marks.
    The impression it gives
    A reader takes the lorry crossing as established.
    The context
    The Express reports the lorry route as alleged. What is on record is that he admitted unlawful entry.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

What it gets right

  • “According to Italian court documents”

    It gives a source for the description of the group's kidnapping plan.

  • “In 2015 the man was jailed for seven and a half years in Italy for his role as a spokesman and strategist”

    It grounds the label it uses for Rahim in a specific conviction, with the date, the place and the role.

  • “The Home Office has confirmed his deportation will be sought”

    It attributes the deportation plan to the Home Office rather than stating it as settled.

How other outlets reported it

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