Radical UK Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary faces three terrorist charges, including membership of a proscribed organization, directing a terrorist organization, and addressing meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organization, according to the police. Choudary, 56, will appear in court in London on Monday to face these charges.
Once a well-known figure in Britain’s Islamist preaching scene, Choudary was previously imprisoned in 2016 for his role in advocating support for Islamic State. However, he was released in 2018 after serving half of his five-and-a-half year sentence. As the former leader of the now-banned group al-Muhajiroun, Choudary gained attention for his praise of the individuals responsible for the 9/11 attacks in the United States. He also expressed a desire to convert Buckingham Palace into a mosque.
Choudary’s followers have been linked to various plots around the world. Additionally, a 28-year-old Canadian man, Khaled Hussein, has been charged with membership of a proscribed organization after being arrested on the same day as Choudary when he arrived at Heathrow Airport.
