The travel patterns of a man who would become an ISIS fighter led counter terrorism police to Stephen Gray’s door.

Mohammed Abdullah, is the older brother, of Abdalraouf, who helped Gray try and get in to Syria. Mohammed was already known to GMP.

But intelligence about his travel to Syria led to police raiding addresses in Manchester and raised suspicion about his brother, and his friends, and triggered a major investigation.

Read more: Iraq veteran RAF gunner who tried to get to Syria to fight for ISIS faces jail after admitting terror charges

Gray was a gunner with the RAF and if he had reached Syria would have been well trained to fight.

According to the RAF ‘s own website, Regiment Gunners specialise “in infantry tactics, weaponry, field craft, and force protection. These elite soldiers carry out a range of crucial duties to defend RAF bases and overseas air operations.”

Responsibilities include: ground combat support in deployed operations; train other RAF personnel in defensive military skills; Operate the Defence Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Wing; Support various Special Forces unit.