‘Historic’ Counter Terrorism investigation leads to life sentence for Anjem Choudary
A worldwide police inquiry, with the help of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and law enforcement from North America, resulted in the imprisonment of the extremist preacher Anjem Choudary for leading a prohibited terrorist organization.
The collaborative effort between the Met Police and MI5 to investigate Choudary received support from the NYPD and the RCMP.
Following a six-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court, Choudary, who is 58 years old and from east London, was convicted on Tuesday, July 23. He was found guilty of leading a terrorist group, being a member of an illegal organization, and promoting backing for a terrorist group.
Choudary was given a life sentence in court on Tuesday, July 30, and was told he must serve at least 28 years (taking into account time already spent in custody). He will also have to follow certain rules and regulations for 30 years.
Khaleed Hussein, a 29-year-old man from Edmonton, Canada, was convicted of being a member of a banned group. He has been given a prison sentence of five years with an extra year of supervision upon release. Additionally, he will have to adhere to reporting rules for 15 years.
Following the verdict, the Judge praised the efforts of law enforcement officials in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada for their work on this case.
Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Counter Terrorism Command at the Metropolitan Police, stated:
These beliefs have been confirmed due to the exceptional efforts of Counter Terrorism police and MI5 in the UK, as well as the courageous work of undercover officers in the US and Canada.
The facts and proof we obtained, in collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service, allowed us to create a compelling case showing that Choudary was leading the ALM terrorist group and urging others to join them.
I am certain that these strong beliefs and the punishments given as a result have made neighborhoods in London, as well as in the entire UK and other places, much more secure.
Assistant Commissioner Lisa Moreland, who is in charge of the Northwest Region at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, stated:
"This inquiry serves as a clear demonstration of the importance of sharing information, collaborating with other countries, and using intelligence to combat the spread of online extremism and radicalization."
It reminds us that extremism can spread in any place and we must all stay alert.
Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Ulam Weiner of the New York City Police Department stated:
"Anjem Choudary spent many years influencing people to become radicalized in various parts of the world. Thanks to continuous cooperation among different agencies and countries, he has finally been held accountable for his actions."
In the world we live in today where boundaries are less defined, it is crucial for different agencies to come together and work as a team to ensure public safety. The NYPD wants to express their gratitude to Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5, and RCMP for their hard work and dedication which helped bring this case to a successful end.
In July 2021, the restrictions on Choudary's license connected to his past conviction for terrorism in 2016 ended. As a result, authorities grew worried that he might resume involvement in terrorist activities.
The inquiry into Choudary reached its peak with his arrest nearly two years after it began. Colleagues from the NYPD and later the RCMP shared crucial information with the CTC, enabling London detectives to gather evidence that Choudary was overseeing the banned terrorist group Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) through online lectures with followers in New York.
CTC investigators were informed that Choudary was joining a group called the "Islamic Thinkers Society" when the NYPD reached out to them in the fall of 2021 during their covert operation on ITS.
Investigators here collaborated closely with members of the NYPD to gather information about the group and determine how Choudary was becoming more deeply engaged.
In May 2022, CTC investigators were contacted by RCMP counterparts who were looking into a Canadian individual named Khaled Hussein. An undercover RCMP officer had been communicating with Hussein and discovered another link between Hussein and Choudary in London.
Information from Canada indicated that Hussein was effectively serving as Choudary's personal aide. Hussein assisted him in organizing online lectures with fellow extremists and also revised extremist online articles and publications for Choudary.
During the following months, the investigation team collected information, intelligence, and evidence that suggested the ITS group in New York was connected to the banned terrorist organization ALM.
Important proof was found by undercover police officers from both the NYPD and RCMP, linking ALM to ITS. Hussein referred to ITS as "being Al-Muhajiroun" in a voice message sent to a Canadian officer. Evidence from NYPD officers revealed that Choudary was organizing and leading lectures for the ITS group on encrypted platforms.
During this time, authorities in the UK kept collecting more information and proof, while some officers went to the US and Canada to secure important evidence that could be used in the UK.
In all, law enforcement searched through hundreds of hours of audio and video files and reviewed over 16,000 documents. They spent over ten years examining the material to confirm the connections between ALM, ITS, and Choudary.
Included in the audio content were secret recordings of Choudary speaking with his wife about participating in ALM activities, as well as a conversation between Choudary and Omar Bakri Muhammad, the previous leader of ALM.
Bakri and Choudary talked about what a few people who used to be involved with ALM were up to. Choudary also said that he was in charge of ALM as the "caretaker emir" in 2014 while Bakri was in prison for terrorism in Lebanon.
The investigation team found proof that the ALM group had been supporting individuals in joining Daesh for the past ten years. Choudary is now trying to influence and radicalize a new group of extremists, urging them to support terrorist activities globally.
In July 2023, detectives in the UK were informed by an undercover RCMP officer that Hussein intended to visit Choudary in London. Both suspects were apprehended by officers, with Hussein being taken into custody on 17 July, 2023 upon his arrival in London from Canada. Choudary had been arrested earlier that morning.
After further investigation during their time in jail, the two individuals were officially accused on July 23, 2023. They were later convicted at Woolwich Crown Court and given the appropriate sentences.
