OTTAWA,
ON, July 23, 2024 /CNW/ - On July 23, 2024, Khaled Hussein, a Canadian
citizen and resident of Edmonton,
and Anjem Choudary, a British citizen, were convicted in the
United Kingdom on multiple charges
under the Terrorism Act.
Investigators from RCMP Federal Policing Integrated
National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), Northwest Region,
working in close collaboration with international law enforcement
partners, were instrumental in gathering important evidence to help
secure the initial arrests and subsequent convictions of these
individuals.
About the investigation
In October of 2019, RCMP Federal Policing INSET, Northwest
Region, began an investigation focused on individuals within
Alberta who recruit, radicalize,
and facilitate entry into violent extremism.
Through this work, Khaled
Hussein, a Canadian citizen employed at a local gas station
in Edmonton, was identified as a
person of interest.
RCMP Federal Policing INSET launched a comprehensive
investigation into his activities, including an undercover
operation, and discovered that Hussein was heavily involved with
the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), which is known to be another
name for Al-Muhajiroun (ALM).
A number of former ALM followers have been linked to terror
plots, including the murder of five people on Westminster Bridge on
March 22, 2017, and an attack that
killed eight on London Bridge on June 3,
2017.
During this intensive three-year investigation, RCMP Federal
Policing INSET in Edmonton were
able to confirm Hussein was sharing ITS/ALM information on a global
scale on behalf of, and taking direction from, 57-year-old Anjem
Choudary, of London.
Choudary, a British national, was previously convicted in 2016
under the Terrorism Act in the United Kingdom, for inviting support for the
terror group ISIS, and jailed for five-and-a-half years.
Upon learning of Hussein's ties to ITS/ALM and Choudary; RCMP
Federal Policing INSET investigators reached out to the FBI and
NYPD in the United States and the
United Kingdom Metropolitan Police
Counter Terrorism Command, better known as the CTC, where parallel
investigations were taking place.
Information was shared between all partners to help move each
investigation forward.
In June of 2023, the RCMP discovered Hussein had made plans to
travel from Edmonton, Alberta, to
London, England, and immediately
contacted the CTC.
On July 17, 2023, Khaled Hussein was arrested upon landing in
London by the CTC and later
charged with the following offences, in accordance with UK law:
- S.11 Terrorism Act - Membership in a proscribed
organization
- S.49 Notice – Regulation of Investigatory Powers
Act
Anjem Choudary was also arrested by the CTC on July 17, 2023, and later charged with the
following offences:
- S.11 Terrorism Act - Membership in a proscribed
organization
- S.12 Terrorism Act - Addressing meetings to encourage
support of a proscribed organization.
- S.56 Terrorism Act - Directing a terrorist
organization
Evidence collected in Canada by
the RCMP was presented and included in court during the trial of
both men and was essential in securing their convictions.
On July 23, 2024, Khaled Hussein and Anjem Choudary were found
guilty on all charges.
RCMP's Federal Policing is committed to working in partnership
with both domestic and foreign agencies to keep Canadians safe and
secure and to protect Canadian interests at home and abroad.
"This investigation is truly an example of how information and
intelligence sharing as well as collaboration between countries is
vital to stopping the spread of online extremism and
radicalization," said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Lisa Moreland, Northwest Region, Federal
Policing. "It serves as a reminder that extremism can take hold
even in the unlikeliest of locations and that we must all remain
vigilant."
See something, say something. If you have concerns that someone
is considering, planning, or preparing to commit an act of violence
or assist others in committing acts of terrorism, contact or visit
your local police department. The sooner you report the better, to
help prevent someone from crossing the line into criminal
actions.
If you prefer to contact the RCMP directly, non‐emergency tips
can be reported to the RCMP National Security Information Network
by phone at 1‐800‐420‐5805 or online at
https://rcmp.ca/report-it.
Valuable observations and reports of suspicious activity often
come from people who have seen or heard only hints of planning or
preparations. Your report may be the one that helps the police in
detecting and preventing a violent extremist attack.
Related News
'Historic' Met and international police counter terrorism
investigation leads to Anjem Choudary terror conviction
RCMP Federal Policing, Northwest Region, help secure Terrorism
Act convictions against two men in the United Kingdom | Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(rcmp-grc.gc.ca)
SOURCE Royal Canadian Mounted Police