Three Men Face Charges After String of Targeted Attacks on Pakistani Dissidents in UK
Three British nationals have been formally charged by police in connection with a series of what authorities describe as highly targeted attacks against two Pakistani dissidents residing in the United Kingdom. The incidents, which began on Christmas Eve, have prompted a significant counter-terrorism investigation due to their specific and concerning nature.
Details of the Alleged Assaults and Police Response
The alleged attacks occurred in Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire, targeting two prominent supporters of the jailed former Pakistani prime minister, Imran Khan. One of the victims, human rights lawyer Mirza Shahzad Akbar, a former member of Khan's cabinet, provided a harrowing account to the Guardian. He reported being punched up to 30 times by a man who knocked on his door and verified his identity before launching the assault.
Counter-terror police (CTP) in London assumed control of the investigations from local forces, citing the targeted and deliberate character of these incidents. This week, police executed seven raids and made multiple arrests across London, Essex, and the Midlands in response to four separate attacks.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
On Friday, CTP London announced that three men have been charged in relation to these events. All are British nationals and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday. The charges are as follows:
- Karl Blackbird, 40, from Bedworth: Charged with conspiracy to assault occasioning actual bodily harm concerning two alleged attacks on 24 December.
- Clark McAulay, 39, from Coventry: Charged with conspiracy to assault occasioning actual bodily harm over an incident in Chesham.
- Doneto Brammer, 21, from Wood Green, London: Charged in connection with the alleged attack on 31 December at Akbar's home in Cambridgeshire. His charges include possession of a prohibited weapon, conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, and conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
Ongoing Investigation and Further Arrests
The police investigation remains active, with detectives maintaining an open mind regarding potential motivations and possible links between the incidents. Additional arrests have been made throughout the week:
- A 34-year-old man was arrested in Essex on 5 January and has been released on bail.
- On Wednesday, five more individuals were detained, including three of those now charged. A 30-year-old man in Birmingham and a 40-year-old woman in north London were also arrested and subsequently released on bail.
- The seventh arrest occurred on Friday, involving a 25-year-old man taken into custody in Warwickshire, who remains held at a London police station.
Counter-terrorism detectives have conducted searches at multiple locations, including four in Birmingham, one in Coventry, one in Warwickshire, and two sites in London, as part of their thorough inquiry.
Victim's Account and Broader Context
Mirza Shahzad Akbar, 48, expressed profound fear in the aftermath of the attacks, stating he is currently in hiding. "They are trying to scare and intimidate me, and I am pretty scared. I fear for my life and for my family's lives," he told the Guardian. As a human rights barrister and Pakistani dissident living in exile, Akbar is an outspoken critic of the Pakistani regime, which he asserts is backed by the military.
While Akbar cannot definitively identify the perpetrators, he emphasised, "One thing is certain: it was a targeted attack and the people who attacked were probably hired by someone." This statement underscores the serious and organised nature of the assaults, which have raised significant security concerns within the UK's dissident communities.
