Anjem Choudary in court over 'terror group' charges

Radical preacher Anjem Choudary has appeared in court accused of directing banned group Al-Muhajiroun.

The 56-year-old Islamist from east London has also been charged with addressing meetings to encourage support for the organisation.

Another man, Khaled Hussein, 28, was charged on Monday, accused of being a member of the same group.

Both appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and did not enter pleas.

An offshoot of Al-Muhajiroun was banned, or proscribed, in 2006 for glorifying terrorism.

That ban was expanded in 2010 to include a number of other names, including Al-Muhajiroun.

Choudary was arrested in the capital by counter-terrorism detectives on 17 July, the same day as Mr Hussein, who is from Edmonton in Canada, was detained after getting off a flight at Heathrow.

The prosecution claims Choudary spoke to weekly online small groups from June 2022 until his arrest, giving lectures on the establishment of an Islamic State in Britain and how to radicalise people.

He remained silent in court during the 23 minute hearing, other than to confirm his name, date of birth and Ilford address.

Choudary is accused of membership of a proscribed organisation, addressing Al Muhajiroun meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organisation and directing a terrorist organisation, contrary to section 56 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Mr Hussein is charged with being a member of Al Muhajiroun. Prosecutors allege he helped set up its Canadian branch and say he was "in effect working for" Choudary.

Khaled Hussein, a Canadian national, was arrested at Heathrow

Both men were initially held under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and police had been granted extra time to question the suspects in detention before they were charged.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded both men in custody and said they should next appear in court at the Old Bailey on 4 August.

Nick Price, from the Crown Prosecution Service's Counter Terrorism Division, said: "The charges relate to the proscribed organisation Al-Muhajiroun, also known as the Islamic Thinkers Society.

"Criminal proceedings against Mr Choudary and Mr Hussein are now active and they each have the right to a fair trial."