Renowned as a Pakistani-British extremist figure, Anjem Choudary found himself in the custody of London’s Metropolitan Police on Monday morning.
Choudary’s arrest was part of an investigation into suspected terrorist activity, authorities confirmed. Acting on this suspicion, the counter-terrorism unit of the Metropolitan Police secured Choudary at his Ilford home before moving him to a west London location for further questioning.
The precise allegations against Choudary are centred around his suspected involvement in a banned organization, whose identity remains undisclosed by officials.
The Investigation
Parallel to the Choudary investigation, Monday afternoon witnessed another related arrest. A Canadian national was apprehended at London’s Heathrow Airport, linking him to the Choudary case. While the precise nature of their association is yet to be clarified by the authorities, the Canadian national also faces allegations similar to those levelled at Choudary – involvement in a criminal organization.
The arrest aligns with the stipulations outlined in section 11 of the Terrorism Act of 2000. Both suspects currently await further proceedings at a West London police station under the provisions of section 41 of the same act. With the investigation ongoing, the authorities have initiated searches at three distinct locations in east London.
Choudary’s History of Extremist Activities
Prominently spotlighted in Arab News’ “Preachers of Hate” series, Choudary carries a notorious reputation as a leading extremist in the United Kingdom. His affiliations encompass radical groups like Al-Muhajiroun, a group proscribed by the British government following the devastating 9/11 attacks and the 7 July 2005 bombings in London.
Choudary’s extremist ideology is characterized by his commendation of the 9/11 terrorists as “magnificent martyrs.” His controversial rhetoric earned him a five-and-a-half-year sentence in September 2016 after openly encouraging UK Muslims to join the terrorist organization Daesh (ISIS). However, he served only a fraction of this sentence before his release.
