Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶ ... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶
Choudary was found guilty of directing the terrorist organization Al-Muhajiroun and encouraging support for it through online meetings.
Prosecutors said the preacher directed the Al-Muhajiroun for a significant period of time from 2014 onwards and also encouraged support for the group by addressing online meetings of the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS).
The conviction was the result of an extensive investigation by British, American, and Canadian authorities into Al-Muhajiroun, which was founded in the UK in 1996 and banned in 2010 due to its links to terrorism attacks.
Choudary, known for his radical views, had been a prominent figure in the UK’s Islamist extremist scene.
A person found guilty of directing a terrorist organisation, contravenes section 56 of the UK Terrorism Act 2000, and is liable to conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life.
The head of the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command, Commander Dominic Murphy, however said Choudary faces a “significant” jail sentence.
“There are individuals that have conducted terrorist attacks or travelled for terrorist purposes as a result of Anjem Choudary’s radicalising impact upon them.
“ALM’s tentacles have spread across the world and have had a massive impact on public safety and security,” Murphy said.
NYPD deputy commissioner Rebecca Weiner said it was a “historic case”, describing Choudary as a “shameless, prolific radicaliser”.
“It is usually the foot soldiers, the individuals, who are brought into the network who go on to commit the attacks who are brought to justice. And it’s rarely the leader, which is what makes this a particularly important moment,” Ms Weiner said.
