Edmonton Man Found Guilty of Terrorism Offence in UK

An RCMP patch is seen on a uniform in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

A Canadian citizen from Edmonton has been found guilty of a terrorism offence in the United Kingdom, the RCMP said following an investigation with international partners.

On July 23, Khaled Hussein and British citizen Anjem Choudary were convicted on multiple charges under the Terrorism Act, the RCMP announced in a statement.

RCMP Federal Policing Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) initiated an investigation in October 2019, focusing on individuals within Alberta who “recruit, radicalize, and facilitate entry into violent extremism.” Mr. Hussein, who worked at a local gas station, was identified as a person of interest during this investigation.

INSET said that Mr. Hussein was heavily involved with the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), also known as Al-Muhajiroun (ALM). The RCMP noted that ALM has been implicated in other terror activities in the UK, including the murder of five individuals on Westminster Bridge in London on March 22, 2017, and a separate attack that killed eight on London Bridge on June 3, 2017.

Mr. Hussein had been taking direction from Mr. Choudary, a 57-year-old resident of London, the RCMP said. Mr. Choudary was previously convicted under the British Terrorism Act in 2016 for inviting support for the terror group ISIS, and was jailed for five-and-a-half years.

Investigation

The RCMP said INSET collaborated with international partners, including the FBI, the New York City Police Department, and the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command (CTC), which conducted parallel investigations.

In June 2023, the federal police force learned of Mr. Hussein’s plan to travel from Edmonton to London, England, and contacted the CTC. He was arrested on July 17 upon landing in London.

Mr. Hussein faced charges under UK law, including membership in a banned organization under the Terrorism Act and violations of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, which can compel a person to provide information or assistance to law enforcement.

Mr. Choudary was also charged under the UK Terrorism Act, including membership in a proscribed organization, encouraging support for a proscribed organization through speeches, and directing a terrorist organization.

On July 23, both men were found guilty on all charges.

The UK government describes ALM as an Islamist group seeking an Islamic caliphate. The group first emerged in the UK in 1996, was disbanded in 2004, and reformed under the names of Al Ghurabaa and the Saved Sect. The UK banned these groups in July 2006.

ALM and ITS are not currently included on Canada’s terrorist entities list.

The Epoch Times contacted Public Safety Canada and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for comment, but didn’t receive a response by the time of publication.

The news comes one day after another Canadian citizen attempted to attack a security unit in Israel.

The man was killed on July 22 in Netiv HaAsara, an Israeli village near the Gaza border, after threatening local Israeli security officials with a knife. During the attack, the man was yelling “Free Palestine” and “You are killing civilians in Gaza” before being shot and killed, as reported by Israel’s Kan public broadcaster.

GAC spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod said the department is aware of the incident but declined to provide further details, citing privacy considerations.

Carolina Avendano contributed to this report.