Now Choudary returns to the home where he preached hate
ANJEM Choudary is back at the home from where he masterminded an Islamist extremist group, sparking fears he could pose a new security threat.
The 52-year- old hate preacher remains subject to strict licence conditions and was spotted wearing an electronic tag on his right ankle outside his long-time family property in East London.
Choudary was released from jail to a bail hostel last October after serving under half of his five-and-a-half year sentence for inviting support for Islamic State.
But now he is back at the same home from where he led the outlawed alMuhajiroun, and various successor groups, which helped radicalise notorious terrorists, including London Bridge attack ringleader Khuram Butt, and Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, who murdered soldier Lee Rigby.
Choudary is thought to have helped inspire some 110 British jihadists travel to join Islamic State in Syria.
On his return home, the father of five was spotted visiting local shops, commenting to journalists that it was a ‘lovely day’.
He declined to answer other questions before going on to purchase sweets and an electricity top-up card from a store.
Choudary, who was dressed in his trademark white robes, remains subject to highly restrictive conditions which curb his right to give interviews to propagate his militant views.
Police monitor him in a security operation reputed to cost £2million annually. Although it is believed his own extremist work has decreased, security sources have noticed increased activity among his supporters, the Telegraph reported, adding that the recent release of two of Choudary’s former lieutenants, Mizanur Rahman and Abu Izzadeen, has raised concern among the intelligence community.
‘ The group remains a threat to national security but the disruptions have been very effective. Choudary is now out and back at home’, the source said.
‘He is somebody who preferred to stay in the comfort of his home in London and encourage others to go and fight. He is a coward, his are not the actions of a warrior.’
His wife, Rubana Akhtar, was also the subject of an 18-month terror probe before it was dropped last September.
At the time of Choudary’s conviction, the then home secretary Amber Rudd said of him and a co-defendant: ‘These dangerous individuals were recruiting sergeants for Daesh [Islamic State]. They poisoned the minds of vulnerable people and their warped and twisted propaganda offered support and succour to a murderous and barbaric terrorist organisation.’
A Ministry of Justice spokesman declined to comment on Choudary’s return home but said: ‘Public protection is our overriding priority when deciding whether an offender should be allowed to relocate.
‘This would only be permitted following a robust risk assessment and they remain subject to close monitoring and strict licence conditions which, if they are breached, can see them go back to jail.’
Choudary was previously spotted visiting the newly unveiled Albukhary Gallery of the Islamic World at the British Museum in January.
‘Increased activity among supporters’