LONDON (AP) — Radical British preacher Aneem Choudhary was found guilty Tuesday by a London jury of leading a terrorist group.
Choudhary, 57, was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of being a member of banned extremist Islamist group Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) and inciting support for the group.
ALM was outlawed by the UK government in 2010 for being involved in the commission, preparation and promotion of terrorism.
“ALM’s tentacles extend across the globe with significant implications for public safety and security,” said Metropolitan Police Commander Dominic Murphy. “As a result of Aneem Choudhary’s radicalisation some individuals have carried out terror attacks or travelled for terrorist purposes.”
Prosecutor Tom Little described Choudary as someone with a “warped and twisted mindset” and said he took over as leader of ALM after the group’s founder, Omar Bakri Mohammed, was imprisoned in Lebanon from 2014 until March 2023.
Choudhary, who was previously convicted of supporting the Islamic State, denied at his trial that he promoted ALM through his speeches and said the group no longer exists.
‘Stone adulterers’: Islamophobic preacher Aneem Choudhary calls on Taliban to implement strict Sharia law https://t.co/sWWR79ujxd
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) August 23, 2021
Prosecutors said the group has operated under a number of names, including the New York-based Society of Islamic Thinkers, which Choudhary spoke about.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner said the case was historic, as the Society for Islamic Thinkers is the U.S. branch of ALM.
“Typically, it’s the soldiers who are brought into the networks and who end up carrying out the attacks who are brought to justice,” Weiner said, “and it’s rare that the leaders are brought to justice. That makes this particularly significant.”
Choudhary was convicted along with one of the group’s followers, Khaled Hussein, who prosecutors said was a staunch supporter.
Hussain, 29, from Edmonton, Canada, was convicted of being a member of a banned organisation.
The two were arrested a year ago when Hussein arrived at Heathrow Airport.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 30th.
Released terror offender Ajem Choudhary must learn lesson on ‘deradicalisation’ https://t.co/dhvZBxKU5D
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) October 29, 2018
