International counter terrorism investigation leads to Anjem Choudary conviction

A world police investigation involving the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (CTC) working with regulation enforcement from north America has resulted within the conviction of the novel preacher Anjem Choudary for guiding a banned terrorist group.

The joint-Met Police and MI5 investigation into Choudary was assisted by the New York Police Division (NYPD) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

After a six-week trial at Woolwich Crown Courtroom, Choudary, 57 (18.01.1976), of east London, was discovered responsible on Tuesday, 23 July of directing a terrorist organisation, membership of a proscribed organisation and inspiring assist for a terrorist organisation.

Khaleed Hussein, 29 (17.03.1995), of Edmonton, Canada was additionally discovered responsible of membership of a proscribed organisation.

Commander Dominic Murphy Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command mentioned:

“These convictions come on account of some really outstanding work – not solely right here within the UK by Counter Terrorism police and our colleagues in MI5, but additionally from the extremely courageous work of undercover officers each within the US and Canada. The data and proof we had been in a position to collect, all whereas working intently with the Crown Prosecution Service, meant we had been in a position to construct a really robust case to show Choudary was directing the ALM terrorist group and inspiring others to affix them.

“Choudary, particularly, is now dealing with a major sentence. I’ve little doubt that these convictions have left communities right here in London, but additionally proper throughout the UK and past, a lot safer.”

Assistant Commissioner Lisa Moreland, Regional Commander for the Northwest Area on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police mentioned:

“This investigation is really an instance of how data and intelligence sharing and collaboration between international locations is significant to stopping the unfold of on-line extremism and radicalization.

“It serves as a reminder that extremism can take maintain wherever and that we should all stay vigilant.”

Khaleed Hussein, 29, of Edmonton, Canada

New York Metropolis Police Division (NYPD) Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Ulam Weiner mentioned:

“Anjem Choudary spent many years radicalizing people around the globe and has now been dropped at justice due to relentless collaboration throughout a number of businesses and international locations.

“In at the moment’s borderless world, public security calls for the extent of teamwork that outlined this historic investigation. The NYPD is deeply grateful to our companions at Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5, and RCMP for his or her tireless efforts that introduced this case to its profitable conclusion.”

In July 2021, licence situations linked to Choudary’s earlier terrorism conviction in 2016 expired, and officers turned more and more involved that he would re-engage with terrorist exercise.

The investigation into Choudary culminated in his arrest nearly two years later. It was due to data supplied to the CTC by colleagues from the NYPD after which additionally the RCMP that detectives in London had been in a position to piece collectively proof that Choudary was operating and directing what was in-effect the banned terror group Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) through on-line lectures with followers based mostly in New York.

CTC detectives had been alerted to the very fact Choudary was changing into concerned in a gaggle known as the “Islamic Thinkers Society” when the NYPD contacted them in Autumn 2021 in relation to an undercover investigation they had been finishing up into ITS.

Detectives right here labored intently with colleagues from the NYPD to construct an image of the group and determine how Choudary was changing into more and more concerned.

In Could 2022, CTC detectives had been additional contacted by colleagues within the RCMP, who had been additionally investigating a Canadian known as Khaled Hussein. An undercover officer from the RCMP was in contact with Hussein and had recognized an extra connection between Hussein and Choudary in London.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Ulam Weiner (Left). RCMP Assistant Commissioner Lisa Moreland, Regional Commander for the Northwest Area (Proper).

Proof from Canada confirmed how Hussein was successfully appearing as a private assistant to Choudary. Hussein helped him host on-line lectures with different extremists and edited extremist on-line blogs and publications for Choudary.

Over the succeeding months, data, intelligence and proof was gathered collectively by the investigation staff, which constructed an image that the ITS group in New York was a continuation and extension of the proscribed terrorist organisation ALM.

Essential proof was recognized from each NYPD and RCMP undercover officers, which confirmed the express hyperlink between ALM and ITS. In a single voice word despatched to the Canadian officer, Hussein described ITS as “being Al-Muhajiroun”. Proof from the NYPD officers additionally confirmed how Choudary was internet hosting and operating lectures for the ITS group through encrypted platforms.

Within the meantime, police and MI5 continued to assemble different intelligence and proof right here within the UK and officers additionally travelled to the US and Canada to make sure key proof could possibly be secured to be used within the UK.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command

In whole, officers trawled via 100s of hours of audio and video content material and assessed over 16,000 paperwork, working via greater than a decade of fabric to determine and show the hyperlinks between ALM, ITS and Choudary.

Among the many audio content material had been covert recordings from Choudary’s handle, the place he was heard having conversations together with his spouse about being concerned in ALM exercise, and likewise captured a dialog between Choudary and Omar Bakri Muhammad – the previous chief of ALM.

Bakri and Choudary mentioned the actions of assorted individuals who had former hyperlinks to ALM and crucially, Choudary additionally confirmed throughout one dialog that he had taken the function of main ALM as its “caretaker emir” in 2014 whereas Bakri had been imprisoned for terrorism offences in Lebanon.

Proof gathered by the investigation staff additionally confirmed how, over the previous decade, the ALM group had inspired and assisted numerous individuals in becoming a member of and combating for Daesh and that Choudary was now in search of to affect and radicalise a brand new technology of extremists and encourage them to go and assist terrorist causes around the globe.

In July 2023, UK detectives turned conscious through the undercover RCMP officer that Hussein deliberate to go to Choudary in London, and officers moved to arrest the pair. Hussein was arrested on 17 July, 2023 as he arrived on a flight into London from Canada with Choudary arrested earlier that morning.

After finishing up extra enquiries whereas they had been in police custody, the pair had been charged on 23 July, 2023. They had been convicted as above and are each as a result of be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Courtroom on 30 July.