Two men from London have been formally charged with terrorism offences, including attending a training camp run by the proscribed organisation Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Charges and Allegations
Annis Makki, 40, from Willesden in North West London, and Mohamad Hadi Kassir, 33, from Paddington in West London, are both accused of attending a terrorist training facility. The camp was located at the Birket Jabbour airbase in Lebanon in September 2021. Both men have also been charged with membership of Hezbollah, which is a banned terrorist group in the UK.
Makki faces additional, more serious charges. He has been charged with being involved in the preparation of terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. In total, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised six terrorism-related charges against Makki, while Kassir faces three charges.
Police Investigation and Arrests
The investigation was led by detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing London, who worked closely with international law enforcement partners. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the unit, stated the arrests followed a "painstaking investigation".
Both men were initially arrested on Tuesday, 1 April at their home addresses. After being released on bail, they were rearrested on 10 December and taken into custody before being charged. They are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Public Reassurance and Ongoing Action
Commander Murphy moved to reassure the public regarding any potential threat. "I do not assess there is an ongoing threat to the wider public as a result of the activities of these two individuals," he said. However, he emphasised the continued robust stance of counter-terrorism forces, stating the charges demonstrate that "we will take robust action against anyone here whom we suspect as being involved in terrorist activity."
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of UK security services to combat international terrorist networks and prosecute individuals within the UK suspected of involvement with proscribed organisations.
