A Canadian citizen from Edmonton has been convicted of a terrorism offence in the United Kingdom, as announced by the RCMP following a joint investigation with international partners.
The RCMP Federal Policing Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) launched an investigation in October 2019 focusing on individuals in Alberta involved in recruiting, radicalizing, and facilitating entry into violent extremism. Mr. Hussein, who was employed at a local gas station, was identified as a person of interest during this probe.
INSET revealed that Mr. Hussein had strong ties to the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), also known as Al-Muhajiroun (ALM). The RCMP highlighted that ALM has been linked to other terrorist activities in the UK, including the Westminster Bridge attack on March 22, 2017, and the London Bridge incident on June 3, 2017.
Mr. Hussein was taking directives from Mr. Choudary, a 57-year-old London resident, as per the RCMP. Mr. Choudary had previously been convicted under the British Terrorism Act in 2016 for soliciting support for ISIS and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.
Investigation
The RCMP stated that INSET collaborated with international partners such as the FBI, the New York City Police Department, and the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command (CTC), which were conducting parallel investigations.
In June 2023, the RCMP learned of Mr. Hussein’s plan to travel from Edmonton to London, England, and informed the CTC. He was apprehended on July 17 upon arrival in London.
Mr. Choudary was also charged under the UK Terrorism Act for membership in a proscribed organization, inciting support for a proscribed organization through speeches, and directing a terrorist organization.
On July 23, both individuals were convicted on all counts.
The Epoch Times reached out to Public Safety Canada and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
The man was killed on July 22 in Netiv HaAsara, an Israeli village near the Gaza border, after threatening Israeli security officials with a knife. During the incident, he shouted “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 confirmed that the department is aware of the event but declined to provide additional details citing privacy concerns.
Carolina Avendano contributed to this report.
