A Canadian man arrested by British police at Heathrow airport last week on suspicion of terrorism offenses has now been indicted.
“The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized charges in relation to Anjem Choudary and Khaled Hussein under the Anti-Terrorism Act,” said Nick Price, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS’ anti-terrorism division.
“The charges relate to the banned organization Al-Muhajiroun, also known as the Society of Islamic Thinkers.”
In a statement, Scotland Yard said Hussein, 28, is from Edmonton, and Choudary, 56, is a British citizen from east London. According to multiple British media reportsChoudary is a well-known radical Islamic preacher who was previously convicted of helping ISIS.
Hussein has been accused of belonging to a banned organization.
Choudary has been charged with one count of membership in a proscribed organization, one count of conducting meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organization and one count of directing a terrorist organization.
Both men appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Monday. The court heard that Hussein has been a member of Al-Muhajiroun for two years and has been in close contact with Choudary, “in effect working for him.”
Both men are scheduled to appear in court on August 4 and will remain in custody until then.
According to the Metropolitan Police, anti-terror detectives investigating membership in the Society of Islamic Thinkers arrested Hussein on July 17 after he arrived in London on a flight to Heathrow airport. Choudary was arrested that same day.
According to a UK government websiteBritain’s Home Secretary “outlaws” an organization if it believes it commits or participates in acts of terrorism, or prepares for terrorism, or promotes or encourages terrorism.
Those found guilty of an offense under Sections 11 and 12 of the UK Terrorism Act 2000 face up to 14 years in prison and/or a fine. A person found guilty of an offense under section 56 of the Act he faces life in prison.
Choudary is known as one of Britain’s best-known radical Islamic preachers. For years, he has led groups under names like al-Muhajiroun, Islam4UK and Muslims Against Crusades.
In 2016, he was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for promoting support for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group.
Several people who attended demonstrations and events in Choudary have been convicted of violent attacks, including a pair of al Qaeda-inspired assassins who ran over and stabbed British soldier Lee Rigby to death in 2013.
