Anjem Choudary convicted

From The Telegraph

On Tuesday he was found guilty of directing a terrorist organisation and encouraging support for it through online meetings.

During his trial, Woolwich Crown Court heard that he gloated over a series of natural disasters in America, telling his disciples: “Some of the hurricanes, you know, and I named some as well you know: Hurricane Osama, Hurricane Ali. Glory be to Allah.”

Prosecutor Tom Little said: “What is that a reference to? It can only be one thing. What is it that Osama bin Laden did to America? Here is a use of language, it’s clever, it serves a purpose. He is talking about an attack on America. What does that tell you about the mindset of Anjem Choudary and the mindset of Al Muhajiroun?”

The 57-year-old began directing the banned terror network Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) just three weeks after completing his sentence for a previous terror offence, it can now be revealed.

Choudary had previously been jailed for five years in 2016 after expressing support for Islamic State and was released in October 2018 under a strict set of licensing conditions, including a ban on using the internet.

But within days of those conditions expiring in July 2021, Choudary was once again directing the banned terror network Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) and was delivering online lectures in an attempt to radicalise a new generation of international jihadists.

The former lawyer is now facing a lengthy prison sentence after a covert investigation involving Scotland Yard’s counter-terror police, MI5, the New York Police Department and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, revealed his role as a trans-Atlantic terrorist puppet master.

In August 2021, just three weeks after the legal restrictions on his movement were lifted, Choudary hosted a “Call to Islam” on the encrypted Telegram platform to more than 700 people.

He then began communicating with ALM’s New York branch – known as the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS) – and authorised one of his followers, the Canadian Islamist, Khaled Hussein to publish material on his behalf. Hussein, 29, who prosecutors said was a “follower and dedicated supporter” of Choudary, was also found guilty of membership of ALM.

From Sky News

It can be revealed police in the UK, US, and Canada had been running separate investigations as they became concerned Choudary was seeking to recruit a new generation of younger followers.

Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner from the New York Police Department (NYPD), called Choudary a “shamelessly prolific radicaliser” and added: “The names may have changed, years passed, but the threat remained.”

Khaled Hussein, 29, a member of ITS living in Edmonton, Canada, began an online magazine called al-Aseer, (the prisoners), and described to Canadian undercover officers how he was “working with Sheikh Anjem”, adding: “We are the remnants of al-Muhajiroun.”

British prosecutors had to prove Choudary had continued to run al-Muhajiroun (ALM),

Two American undercover officers, referred to as OP488 and OP377, flew to London to give evidence and described how they joined a video conference call using the Element messenger platform on 12 June 2022.

A member of ITS using the name Abu Hamza, told Choudary: “We’re not banned or anything, we could go back to the old name al-Muhajiroun.”

Choudary said “fantastic” but then added: “The name is not important anyway.”

MI5 had bugged Choudary’s home and the release of Bakri, after nine years in jail in Lebanon, produced a key piece of intelligence.

On 30 April last year, the covert listening devices picked up Choudary updating Bakri on the members who had become “martyrs” and sending him the phone numbers for the “old timers”.

He described how he had continued his activity online and spoke about his role as Bakri’s “naqib” (deputy) and how he had become “caretaker emir” (leader) when Bakri was jailed in May 2014.

Choudary was arrested when Khaled Hussein arrived from Canada to visit him on 17 July last year. Hussein has also been found guilty of being a member of a proscribed organisation.

Assistant Commissioner Lisa Moreland, from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the number of young people involved in terrorism cases was ‘frightening’.

Choudary regularly grabbed the headlines with stunts that included celebrations of the 11 September attacks, threats to picket soldiers’ funerals, and burning poppies on Remembrance Day.

He was also linked to numerous terrorists, dating back to a group arrested in Crawley, West Sussex in March 2004 who were planning to blow up the Ministry of Sound nightclub using half a ton of ammonium nitrate and who had links to the 7 July 2005 bombers.

The jury was not aware Khuram Butt, the leader of the attackers who killed eight people at London Bridge and Borough Market in June 2017, was said to be “like a lion out of a cage” after meeting Choudary at his home.

Usman Khan, who killed two Cambridge students at a prisoners’ conference at Fishmongers’ Hall in November 2019 was another follower who had Choudary’s number on his mobile phone when he was jailed in 2010.

In a bugged conversation with his wife Rubina Akhtar on 22 March last year, Choudary said: “That impact is there – al-Muhajiroun has gone down in history and that’s why they say 40% of all things associated with us. The impact was phenomenal, global.”

Choudary is the first person to be convicted of being a member of ALM and also the first person in the UK to be convicted of a Section 56 offence of directing an organisation concerned with the commission of acts of terrorism.

The maximum penalty for such an offence is life imprisonment.

These are crime that merit potentially a life sentence, and hopefully that is what he will get