Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Islamist cleric Anjem Choudary directed terror group from London, court told

Choudary, 57, reportedly became the “caretaker” leader of Al-Muhajiroun in 2014 while its spiritual leader was imprisoned in Lebanon.

Islamist cleric Anjem Choudary directed terror group from London, court told

Anjem Choudary, an Islamist cleric, directed an international terrorist group from his home in east London, a court heard.

Choudary, 57, reportedly became the "caretaker" leader of Al-Muhajiroun in 2014 while its spiritual leader was imprisoned in Lebanon, reported The Times.


He is accused of leading the group under the name the "Islamic Thinkers Society" and regularly lecturing to the society in New York during 2022 and 2023.

At Woolwich Crown Court, it was revealed that Michael Adebolajo, one of Fusilier Lee Rigby's murderers in 2013, attended demonstrations with Choudary.

Choudary, from Ilford, has been linked to Al-Muhajiroun, a proscribed organisation, for many years and allegedly promoted it through online meetings, reported the newspaper. He was arrested in July last year alongside a Canadian follower, Khaled Hussein, 29.

Choudary denies directing a terrorist organisation, membership of a proscribed organisation, and encouraging support for Al-Muhajiroun through the Islamic Thinkers Society. Hussein, also known as Abu Aisha Al Kanadi, denies membership of a proscribed organisation.

Al-Muhajiroun has operated under various names over the years, including Muslims Against Crusades and the Saved Sect, with some of these names being banned in the UK, The Times reported.

During the trial's opening on Thursday, the prosecution stated the case involved directing and encouraging support for an international terrorist organisation. Prosecutor Tom Little KC said, “It is a terrorist organisation that we say has members both here in this country and abroad — it is a terrorist organisation that has been banned in this country and banned for many years because of the danger that it possesses.”

He added, “Anjem Choudary, the first defendant, has been a member of that organisation, we say, for many years. He also directed that terrorist organisation for a significant period of time from 2014 onwards.”

The trial in the case continues.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less