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Anjem Choudary among nine arrested in London anti-terrorism raid | Anjem Choudary among nine arrested in London anti-terrorism raid |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Anjem Choudary, one of the most high profile Islamists in Britain, has been arrested by police for allegedly encouraging terrorism. | Anjem Choudary, one of the most high profile Islamists in Britain, has been arrested by police for allegedly encouraging terrorism. |
Choudary, 47, was one of nine men arrested by officers from Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command on Thursday morning. | Choudary, 47, was one of nine men arrested by officers from Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command on Thursday morning. |
Police gave only sparse details, but the men were arrested on suspicion of being members of a proscribed organisation, supporting a proscribed organisation, as well as encouraging terrorism. | Police gave only sparse details, but the men were arrested on suspicion of being members of a proscribed organisation, supporting a proscribed organisation, as well as encouraging terrorism. |
Choudary gained publicity for statements over the years which inflamed some people, but which stayed on the right side of the law. | Choudary gained publicity for statements over the years which inflamed some people, but which stayed on the right side of the law. |
He is a former lawyer, self styled preacher and says he is an expert in Islamic or Shariah law. | He is a former lawyer, self styled preacher and says he is an expert in Islamic or Shariah law. |
On Thursday morning his phone was uncharacteristically switched off and a chat group he uses to communicate his message through was silent and saying it was last viewed at 5.33am. | On Thursday morning his phone was uncharacteristically switched off and a chat group he uses to communicate his message through was silent and saying it was last viewed at 5.33am. |
The men arrested were aged from 22 to 51 years old and were all detained in London. | The men arrested were aged from 22 to 51 years old and were all detained in London. |
Police said a total of 19 addresses were being searched, mostly in London. Police said community premises were being raided, as well as residential and business addresses. One address is in Stoke-on-Trent in the Midlands, eleven in east London, one in west London, one in north-west London and five in south London. | Police said a total of 19 addresses were being searched, mostly in London. Police said community premises were being raided, as well as residential and business addresses. One address is in Stoke-on-Trent in the Midlands, eleven in east London, one in west London, one in north-west London and five in south London. |
Neighbours said Choudhury appeared to move out of his semi-detached home in Walthamstow, north-east London, last week and that there was significant police activity at the address over the weekend. | |
“The police activity was definitely last week,” said one neighbour, who declined to be named. “Police officers came round and went up the doorstep - two were walking around constantly and there were three police cars parked down the road. They were in pairs. A police car came round a few times. Later that evening I saw the light on upstairs after the police had gone.” | |
The neighbour added that Choudhury lived in the house for two or three years but removed some belongings last week. | |
“We’ve had leaflets from rightwing groups put though our door saying do you know he lives down your street,” the neighbour said, adding that they were on “nodding terms” with Choudhury. | |
Another neighbour, Derek Rayner, 70, said Choudhary “kept himself to himself” but was not popular with local residents. | |
“He hasn’t done me any harm personally and he hasn’t done his neighbours any harm but I just don’t want him on my doorstep,” Rayner said. | |
On Thursday morning the property where Choudhary lived was covered in scaffolding, with a number of workers leaving and entering the house. | |
It is unclear whether Choudhary has moved out of the address permanently or until the works, which started several weeks ago, are completed. | |
In a statement the Met said: “These arrests and searches are part of an ongoing investigation into Islamist related terrorism and are not in response to any immediate public safety risk.” | In a statement the Met said: “These arrests and searches are part of an ongoing investigation into Islamist related terrorism and are not in response to any immediate public safety risk.” |
Those arrested in Thursday’s raids are being held at police stations in the capital. | Those arrested in Thursday’s raids are being held at police stations in the capital. |
The Met said: “Officers from the Metropolitan police service’s counter-terrorism command have arrested nine men this morning, Thursday, 25 September, on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation, supporting a proscribed organisation contrary to Section 11 and 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and encouraging terrorism contrary to Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006.” | The Met said: “Officers from the Metropolitan police service’s counter-terrorism command have arrested nine men this morning, Thursday, 25 September, on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation, supporting a proscribed organisation contrary to Section 11 and 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and encouraging terrorism contrary to Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006.” |