HATE preacher Anjem Choudary is facing a life sentence after being found guilty today of masterminding an outlawed group.
The 57-year-old is one of the first ever people to be convicted for membership of the extremist Islamic group al-Muhajiroun(ALM) under Britain’s anti-terror laws.
It followed an unprecedented joint operation by law enforcement agencies in the UK, Canada and US to silence the terror guru and bring him to justice.
Choudary was convicted at London’s Woolwich Crown Court of two counts of directing, membership and encouraging support of a proscribed organisation.
Canadian national Khalid Hussein, 29, was found guilty of being a member of a banned group.
Choudary was trapped by his own arrogance and ego after resuming his mission to radicalise youngsters when he completed a five-and-a-half year jail sentence imposed in 2016 for encouraging support of ISIS.
The firebrand – who inspired a generation of Jihadi killers – was released in 2018 and began brainwashing recruits as young as 14 within days of his stringent parole licence conditions expiring in July 2021.
Trained lawyer Choudary bragged to his followers that he was untouchable as he operated the worldwide tentacles of the sinister ALM group he co-founded in 1996.
Disciples of the group include the killers of Fusilier Lee Rigby, London Bridge atrocity leader Khuram Butt, Fishmongers’ Hall attacker Usman Khan and members of a gang who tried to blow up Bluewater shopping centre.
Despite ALM being banned by the Government in 2010, jurors heard that it had continued under 11 separate guises.
Choudary told his followers that no one had ever been prosecuted for being a member of ALM and bragged about how “many people became shaheed(martyrs)” after being associated with the group.
The father-of-five also encouraged young Islamic fighters to go to Syria to build an Islamic caliphate – but declined to travel there himself on the grounds he was needed at home to bring up his children.
He continued his holy war from the safety of his home in Ilford, East London, where he and his wife lived off state benefits.
Choudary delivered more than 40 internet lectures in a year to global audiences and issued press releases through WhatsApp and Telegram encrypted messaging services.
He told listeners that terrorism was part of the “deen’” – faith – and joked about charging the media £9.11 to enter a press conference on the anniversary of 9/11 and named a hurricane after Osama bin Laden.
In June 2022 the armchair Jihadi warrior began preaching sermons online to the New York-based Islamic Thinkers’ Society (ITS), which had been penetrated by two NYPD undercover cops.
Choudary referred to the ITS as “our branch in America.” In one lecture, he boasted about being labelled “the number one radicaliser in Britain,” adding: “That is a badge of honour for me.
“It’s a medallion on my chest. What do you want to call me? An extremist? Fanatic? All of these.”
In another lecture on February 19 last year, Choudary revealed he had been approached by two 14-year-olds on the gaming and messaging app, Discord.
Choudary revealed his true colours as he said: “I feel like a grandfather. I’m not going to put them down in any way.
“They want the haqq(truth) brother, I’m going to give it to them. You just have to be a bit careful.”
Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had separately begun investigating 29-year-old petrol station worker and ITS member Hussein, of Edmonton, in the province of Alberta.
Hussein, whose father is Lebanese, ran an online magazine called al-Aseer – The Prisoners – and told Canadian undercover cops he was “working with Sheikh Anjem,” adding: “We are the remnants of al-Muhajiroun.”
In Britain, MI5 bugged Choudary’s home and in March last he and Islamic preacher wife Rubana Akhtar discussed Choudary’s connections in America and his wife expressed comfort that “they are al-Muhajiroun.”
She asked him why he allowed people in his classes that “you don’t know from Adam” and Choudary responded: “Because I want to encourage.”
Choudary then tried to reassure her, saying: “I don’t say anything dodgy, I’m very careful.”
The following month he was heard on covert listening devices talking with ALM’s exiled spiritual leader in Lebanon, Omar Bakri Muhammad, who had just been released from jail.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of Scotland Yard’s Counter-Terrorism Command, said: “This is the first time we have brought people together on a truly transnational terrorism investigation.”
He said Choudary had “been a pretty constant presence” for more than 30 years, adding: “His influence as a radicaliser is well-known.”
But Cdr Murphy said the global reality “is that there are individuals who have conducted terrorist attacks or travelled for terrorist purposes as a result of Choudary’s impact on them.”
He warned about “an increasingly large number” of young people – particularly teenage boys – being linked to terrorist investigations.
Cdr Murphy said: “It is deeply worrying and it’s something that we need to think about.
“Voices like Anjem Choudary and the reach of those online environments and secure apps, make it much easier to have an impact on younger people than perhaps we might have seen several years ago.”
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner said it was a “historic case”, describing Choudary as a “shameless, prolific radicalizer”.
Deputy Commissioner Weiner said: “It is usually the foot soldiers, the individuals who are brought into the network who go on to commit the attacks who are brought to justice.
“And it’s rarely the leader, which is what makes this a particularly important moment.”
She said that ITS was “ALM’s US base branch”, adding that “names may have changed, years may have passed, but the threat really remained constant.”
He updated him on ALM members who had become “martyrs,” sent him the phone numbers of “old timers” and told him how he had become “caretaker emir” after Bakri was jailed in May 2014.
An international arrest operation swung into action when Hussein told an undercover Canadian cop he would be passing through London to meet Choudary on his way to Turkey to meet a Russian bride.
Choudary was arrested on July 17 while Hussein was mid-air and the Canadian was held on his arrival at Heathrow.
Both denied the charges against them and Choudary claimed he was suffering the “Kevin Keegan effect” – forever linked to ALM like the footballer was to Liverpool.
However, Tom Little KC, prosecuting, told jurors : “Leopards don’t change their spots and Anjem Choudary has not changed his mindset.”
They will be sentenced on July 30 at the same court.
Omar Bakri Muhammad arrested in Lebanon. Anjem Choudary takes over as “caretaker” leader of ALM.
Choudary arrested on suspicion of encouraging support for the banned terrorist group Isis.
Choudary convicted alongside Mohammed Rahman for encouraging support for banned terror group Isis.
Choudary released from prison on licence.
Choudary’s licence conditions expire.
Choudary hosts Telegram Channel “Call to Islam” – 715 people subscribe to it.
Khaled Hussein, along with others linked to Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), begin social media campaign calling for Bakri Muhammad to be freed from custody in Lebanon.
Hussein sends message to Canadian undercover officer stating “The Islamic Thinkers Society are actually Al Muhajiroun North America”.
NYPD makes first contact with the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command in regard to ongoing investigation into ITS.
Hussein sends NYPD undercover officer a voice message which states that he is working for “Sheikh Anjem”.
Hussein meets Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) undercover officer and sends voice note stating ITS are the “remnants of Al-Muhajiroun”.
RCMP contacts the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command in relation to ongoing investigation into Hussein.
Choudary hosts first online lecture for ITS – attended by NYPD undercover officers. Choudary goes on to hold around 40 lectures or classes for ITS up until April 2023.
NYPD visits London and meets with the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command to discuss respective investigations and material.
Covert recordings of Choudary speaking with his wife discussing his involvement in ITS and ALM.
Further covert recording of Choudary speaking with other ITS leaders – Akbar Khattak and Abu Hamza.
Choudary sends a message to ITS group chat that Bakri Muhammad has been released from prison. Choudary begins sending Bakri Muhammad direct messages the next day.
Choudary hosts further online lecture with ITS which features Bakri Muhammad as a guest speaker.
Covert recording of a phone conversation between Choudary and Bakri Muhammad – within this Choudary confirms to Bakri Muhammad that he took over as “caretaker emir” for ALM.
Met Counter Terrorism Command officers visit the US and Canada to gather further evidence including geo-location restricted video of Choudary detailing his activities with ALM.
Hussein reveals to a Canadian undercover officer his plans to visit Choudary in London.
Choudary arrested at his address and Hussein arrested at Heathrow Airport as he arrives into the UK on a flight from Canada.
