How top terror recruiter Anjem Choudary was brought to justice

Anjem Choudary Convicted Of Leading Terror Group

See: When Anjem Choudary was taken into custody by law enforcement officers.

The radical religious leader Anjem Choudary has been convicted of leading a group involved in terrorism.

Choudary, a key figure in radicalizing individuals in the UK, was apprehended as part of a global covert operation targeting his organization, which has been banned for many years.

Police in the United States and Canada pretended to be terrorists in order to listen in on Choudary's online lectures, while British authorities secretly placed bugs in his home.

Being found guilty of leading the outlawed al-Muhajiroun (ALM) organization could result in Choudary being imprisoned for the rest of his life. This also highlights his unwavering commitment to attracting new followers.

Together with Choudary, a supporter named Khaled Hussein from Canada, who is 29 years old, was found guilty of being part of the prohibited organization.

Driven And Decisive Ideologue

Choudary dedicated many years to organizing bold and controversial protests.

For over 25 years, Anjem Choudary, aged 57, has been advocating for the Islamist beliefs that support violent jihadists in the United Kingdom.

During the late 1990s, the ex-lawyer studied under Omar Bakri Muhammad, a passionate cleric from Syria who founded ALM.

Choudary was appointed as the deputy leader of the group, but in 2010 the UK government outlawed the organization and its affiliated branches due to their connections to terrorist activities.

When Barki Muhammad was imprisoned in Lebanon in 2014, Choudary's trial revealed that he assumed the responsibility of leading the organization and continued to promote a distorted and perverted version of religion.

The self-proclaimed Islamic State group took control of Syria and Iraq, which led to Choudary being arrested two years later for encouraging his followers to join and support the group.

He was let out on parole from HMP Belmarsh in 2018 - with the terms of his sentence, such as a restriction on speaking in front of an audience, expiring in 2021.

Choudary was alleged to have been in charge of ALM from 2014 until at least July 2023. However, the charges in his second trial relate to incidents that occurred after he had completed his sentence in 2021.

Tom Little, a prosecutor representing the KC, shared with Woolwich Crown Court that once Choudary was released from custody, he started giving educational talks to followers in New York who identified as the "Islamic Thinkers Society".

Mr. Little mentioned that ITS and ALM are actually the same group and that undercover officers had managed to sneak into the meetings.

One of the supporters was Khaled Hussein, a 29-year-old gas station attendant from Canada who went by the name Abu Aisha al Kanadi.

He assisted Choudary in managing virtual meetings, and was already under surveillance by authorities in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

In June 2021, the RCMP and the NYPD started exchanging information. Soon after, the Metropolitan Police joined forces with them as Choudary and Hussein began to act more confidently.

The duo were busy creating "Twitter storms" where they shared a lot on social media platforms, advocating for the release of Islamist prisoners.

Choudary made sure not to openly support violence, and Hussein also attempted to hide his public actions. However, both individuals were unaware that they were unknowingly providing proof to undercover officers from the US and Canada who were present at ITS discussions.

"The Islamic Thinkers' Society is essentially the same as al-Muhajiroun North America," Hussein explained to one of the officers.

Meeting His Idol

Anjem Choudary and Khaled Hussein are currently facing trial.

In July of last year, Khaled Hussein made a trip to the UK and was taken into custody at Heathrow airport.

The court at Woolwich Crown Court was told that he informed investigators that he was learning about English literature and was interested in visiting where Shakespeare was born.

However, they were aware that he was actually going to meet Choudary, a man he greatly admired. Hussein had unknowingly disclosed to one disguised officer that "many people are unaware that I am involved with al-Muhajiroun" - and the investigators also had Choudary's part of the conversations.

Choudary gave Hussein tips on popular tourist destinations to check out, mentioning, "You're also close to Woolwich where the well-known Lee Rigby incident occurred."

This refers to the 2013 killing of soldier Lee Rigby by two followers of ALM. The murder took place near the court in south London where Choudary was found guilty.

British authorities also monitored Choudary's phone conversations with his spouse at their residence in east London.

She was worried about his online speeches to America - but Choudary reassured her: “I don’t say anything suspicious.”

She cautioned him about speaking with strangers, but he insisted he was just trying to uplift them.

She had legitimate worries. Sometimes Choudary would speak to only five individuals, with two of them being secret police officers.

Adapting Extremist Group

Choudary's organization used a total of 11 different aliases in order to avoid being banned in the United Kingdom.

Throughout its history, al-Muhajiroun operated under various aliases. Eleven of its splinter groups were banned by different home secretaries over time. According to the court, trying to monitor them was likened to chasing marbles down a staircase.

In the midst of numerous name changes, there was one person who remained consistent - and Choudary's latest conviction highlights the difficulties police face when dealing with a dedicated extremist.

"After he was let out of prison and no longer restricted by his probation terms in 2021, we continued to investigate," stated Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Counter Terrorism Command at the Metropolitan Police.

It is evident that [he] can still have a big impact, even outside the country. We should now be cautious about which person could follow in the footsteps of Anjem Choudary.

All these inquiries, which also include MI5, have to weigh the advantage of swiftly apprehending and prosecuting network members against giving enough time to capture leaders and reveal more intricate schemes.

A high-ranking British security official stated that stopping ALM radicalization has been a major goal of the counter-terrorism community for a while now. This decision adds to the various steps taken to make it challenging for ALM to function.

This study demonstrates how domestic and global allies are coming together to combat terrorism - a crucial strategy in disrupting the current threats that are interconnected online and across borders.

Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner from the New York Police Department mentioned that the investigation had stopped the main person spreading radical ideas, rather than just the followers involved in the attacks. Police in the city had been keeping an eye on ITS for two decades due to its reputation as a breeding ground for extremists.

Dept Comm Weiner stated that this case exemplifies the threat's ability to transcend borders.

Across various organizations, across different nations, across a large body of water. ALM has made a significant impact in the United Kingdom... but in New York City, we have witnessed numerous people being apprehended, found guilty of terrorism-related offenses related to the ITS-ALM branch in New York. And having that impact requires us to collaborate and allocate substantial resources to ensure public safety.

While testifying, Choudary minimized his importance. He griped that he was comparable to a star soccer player being known for only one moment in their career.

Choudary explained to the court that when people inquire about Kevin Keegan, they associate him with playing soccer for Liverpool. Similarly, when people see him, they immediately think of al-Muhajiroun.

However, the prosecution demonstrated to the jurors that ALM had not vanished suddenly - and Choudary had bragged in online discussions in 2022 about his confrontations with the authorities.

"In our country, my beloved brothers, the situation has become increasingly challenging," he informed his followers. "Many have left for foreign lands, many have become martyrs, and many have been taken into custody."

When I was incarcerated, a special facility was created for my brothers and me because authorities were concerned about our Da'Wa activities.

"They told me I am the top influencer in Britain when it comes to extreme beliefs... I see that as a source of pride."

In a different video, Choudary did a thorough audio check before speaking with CNN. During the soundcheck, he counted "1, 2, 3, 4, 5...9/11, 7/7, 3/11."

The previous three mentioned were related to the incidents in New York on September 11, 2001, in London on July 7, 2005, and in Madrid on March 11, 2004.

However, in the end, Choudary was feeling the heat of the investigation and was aware of it.

The next day, Choudary sought guidance from his mentor Omar Bakri Muhammad, who had recently been released from prison in Lebanon.

He complained that the UK was in a state of total chaos. It had become extremely challenging to find new employees.

I keep getting my Telegram channels shut down. Everything I try to do, Sheikh, they shut it down. I must be the most banned person ever.

They recalled their beloved brothers who had tragically lost their lives in Syria or Iraq.

Choudary is destined to return to jail, along with Khalid Hussein. They will be given their sentences on July 30th.