Edmonton man found guilty of terrorism in UK

An Edmonton man has been convicted of multiple charges under the United Kingdom’s Terrorism Act.

Khaled Hussein, a Canadian citizen, and British preacher Anjem Choudary were convicted on Tuesday.

In October 2019, the RCMP Federal Policing Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) launched an investigation into individuals in Alberta who were recruiting, radicalizing and facilitating violent extremism.

According to INSET, Hussein, who worked at a gas station in Edmonton, was identified as a suspect during the investigation.

Investigations into Hussein’s activities have revealed that he was reportedly closely involved with the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), another name for Al-Muhajiroun (ALM).

“A number of former ALM supporters have been linked to terrorist plots, including the murder of five people on Westminster Bridge on 22 March 2017 and an attack that killed eight people on London Bridge on 3 June 2017,” INSET said in a press release.

According to INSET, over the course of three years, investigators were able to establish that Hussein shared ITS/ALM information with Choudary, 57, in London, UK

In June 2023, detectives discovered that Hussein was planning to travel from Edmonton to London. They immediately contacted the United Kingdom Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command (CTC), where a parallel investigation was underway.

On 17 July 2023, Hussein was arrested by the CTC after landing in London and charged with the following offences under UK law:

• S.11 Terrorism Act – Membership of a proscribed organisation; and
• S.49 Notification – Investigatory Powers Regulation Act.

Choudary was also arrested by the CTC on July 17, 2023 and charged with the following:

• S.11 Terrorism Act – Membership of a proscribed organisation;
• S.12 Terrorism Act – Addressing meetings to show support for a proscribed organisation; and
• S.56 Terrorism Act – Leadership of a terrorist organisation.

Both men were found guilty of all charges on Tuesday.