Anjem Choudary jailed for life

Anjem Choudary has been given a life sentence for directing a terror group.

Choudary was previously found guilty of directing a terrorist organisation, membership of a proscribed organisation and encouraging support for a terrorist organisation. He has now been sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of 28 years (less time already served on remand). He will also be subject to notification requirements for 30 years.

Khaleed Hussein was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with an additional year on licence and will be subject to notification requirements for 15 years for membership of a proscribed organisation.

The joint Met Police and MI5 investigation into Choudary was assisted by the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). After sentencing, the Judge commended officers in the UK, US and Canada for their work on this investigation.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “These convictions come as a result of some truly remarkable work - not only here in the UK by Counter Terrorism police and our colleagues in MI5, but also from the incredibly brave work of undercover officers both in the US and Canada.

“The information and evidence we were able to gather, all while working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, meant we were able to build a very strong case to prove Choudary was directing the ALM terrorist group and encouraging others to join them.

“I have no doubt that these convictions and the resulting sentences have left communities here in London, and also right across the UK and beyond, much safer.”

Choudary had previously been convicted of terrorism offences in 2016 and in July 2021, officers became increasingly concerned that he would re-engage with terrorist activity.

He was arrested almost two years later after information was provided to CTC by colleagues from the NYPD and then also the RCMP. It was then found that Choudary was running and directing what was in-effect the banned terror group Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) via online lectures with followers based in New York.

It was also discovered that Choudary was becoming involved in a group called the “Islamic Thinkers Society” when the NYPD contacted them in Autumn 2021 in relation to an undercover investigation they were carrying out into ITS.

In May 2022, CTC were also contacted by colleagues in the RCMP, who were also investigating a Canadian called Khaled Hussein. An undercover officer from the RCMP was in touch with Hussein and had identified a further connection between Hussein and Choudary in London.

It was found that Hussein was effectively acting as a personal assistant to Choudary.

Evidence was gathered that showed that that the ITS group in New York was a continuation and extension of the proscribed terrorist organisation ALM.

Assistant Commissioner Lisa Moreland, Regional Commander for the Northwest Region at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said: “This investigation is truly an example of how information, intelligence sharing and collaboration between countries is vital in stopping the spread of online extremism and radicalization.

“It serves as a reminder that extremism can take hold anywhere and that we must all remain vigilant.”

New York City Police Department Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Ulam Weiner said: “Anjem Choudary spent decades radicalizing individuals around the world and has now been brought to justice thanks to relentless collaboration across multiple agencies and countries.

“In today’s borderless world, public safety demands the level of teamwork that defined this historic investigation. The NYPD is deeply grateful to our partners at Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5, and RCMP for their tireless efforts that brought this case to its successful conclusion.”