Anjem Choudary, a radical preacher, was found guilty of leading a terrorist organization that was outlawed as a consequence of an international police investigation that involved the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (CTC) collaborating with law enforcement from North America.
New York Police Department (NYPD) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) provided support to the joint Met Police and MI5 investigation into Choudary.
After a six-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court, Choudary, 57 of east London, was found guilty on Tuesday, 23 July of directing a terrorist organization, membership of a criminal organization, and encouraging support for a terrorist organization.
Khaleed Hussein, 29 of Edmonton, Canada was also found guilty of membership in a criminal organization.
Choudary told the court that he thought it was a “medallion” to be called an extremist in a lecture.
Choudary testified during his trial that he was one of al-Muhajiroun’s founding three members.
He was still leading it, according to the prosecution, as late as July 2023, giving speeches online to the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), an offshoot of the US.
To establish the connections between al-Muhajiroun, ITS, and Choudary, investigators examined over 16,000 documents and hundreds of hours of audio and video footage, according to their report.
The head of the Met’s counterterrorism command, Commander Dominic Murphy, claims that al-Muhajiroun’s tentacles have spread throughout the world and significantly impacted public safety and security.
“People conducting terrorist attacks or travelling for terrorist purposes” have been influenced by Choudary’s “radicalising impact,” he went on.
The group also became well-known for its purposefully provocative public relations stunts and demonstrations, such as their praise for the 9/11 attacks and heckling of military funerals, which were once frequently featured in the media.
Al-Muhajiroun changed its name regularly after it was outlawed in 2010. According to Choudary, in a secret audio recording played during his trial, the group operated under more than 50 aliases.
Choudary, 57, was taken into custody on July 17, 2023, in Ilford, East London.
Due to the risk this organization poses, it has been outlawed in the UK since 2010. We need more people with such extreme opinions in our society, so I’m glad the jury found them guilty of their crimes.”
The sentencing date for both men is July 30.
