British Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary convicted of directing terrorism

British radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary faces life in prison after being convicted of directing terrorism on Tuesday, July 23. The landmark case, which resulted from an international investigation, centers on al-Muhajiroun (ALM), a group that was outlawed by the British government in 2010 for being involved in committing, preparing for or promoting terrorism.

Choudary, previously known for his extremist views in British media, was found guilty of directing al-Muhajiroun and gathering support for the group after a trial at Woolwich Crown Court in London.

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Prosecutor Tom Little said Choudary stepped in to lead ALM after Omar Bakri Muhammad, the group’s founder, was imprisoned in Lebanon between 2014 and March 2023.

Prosecutors demonstrated that Choudary had been orchestrating terrorist activities since 2014, using platforms like the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS).

“ALM’s tentacles have spread across the world and have had a massive impact on public safety and security,” Cmdr. Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command, said.

Prosecutors identified the New York-based ITS as ALM’s U.S. branch. The investigation involved coordinated efforts between the Metropolitan Police, the New York Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Choudary was arrested in east London on July 17, 2023. Khaled Hussein, a 29-year-old Canadian national who prosecutors described as a “follower” of Choudary, was detained at Heathrow Airport on the same day police arrested Choudary.

Hussein stood trial with Choudary and was found guilty of membership of a proscribed, or banned, organization.

Choudary’s shift to using online platforms to spread his ideology enabled him to extend his influence globally despite the proscription of ALM.

“There are individuals that have conducted terrorist attacks or traveled for terrorist purposes as a result of Anjem Choudary’s radicalizing impact upon them,” Murphy said.

After his license conditions expired in July 2021 following his 2018 release from prison, Choudary moved online, hosting approximately 40 lectures for ITS between June 2022 and April 2023.

Without Choudary’s knowledge, undercover U.S. law enforcement officers infiltrated ITS and attended virtual lectures on the Element messenger platform throughout 2022 and 2023.

Senior security officials described the verdict as a “significant moment” in combating radicalization and terrorism support.

“It is usually the foot soldiers who are brought to justice. And it’s rarely the leader, which is what makes this a particularly important moment,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner said.

Sentencing for both of the men is scheduled for July 30.