Politics
Videos of hate preacher Anjem Choudary spanning 40 hours ‘found in seconds on Google search’
ALMOST 40 hours of rants by hate preacher Anjem Choudary can be found after in seconds on a Google search.
The shocking revelation comes as it was claimed the suspect accused of murdering MP David Amess was radicalised after watching YouTube videos of Choudary.
Ali Harbi Ali was radicalised after watching YouTube videos of hate preacher Anjem Choudary, ex-friends claimed
GettySir David Amess was knifed during a constituency surgery[/caption]
Choudary in one of the videos which are still accessible online
As a first photo of the alleged knifeman Ali Harbi Ali emerged, school pals said vile online material turned him from a popular pupil into an extremist.
One friend who witnessed his dramatic change said “Choudary was someone he became utterly obsessed with.”
Choudary’s rants were removed by YouTube after he was jailed in 2016.
But they were uploaded in May on to the San Francisco-based Internet Archive site by a user called sword4Allah.
Chillingly, in one speech the 54-year-old Choudary calls on followers to “reject all of the MPs” and slams Muslims who go to their constituency MP for advice, according to the Mirror.
In a statement Choudary said: “Although I have delivered many talks and lectures over the years, there is currently no significant material to be found anywhere online due to its removal by social media companies.”
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Convicted hate preacher Choudary — back on the streets after being released from jail — is considered one of the most influential and dangerous radicalisers in the UK.
His followers included Michael Adebolajo, who murdered Fusilier Lee Rigby in South London.
Iinvestigators are confident that Ali, 25, was not directed by terror kingpins abroad.
A former pal told how Ali had been a popular pupil who loved playing football at their secondary school in Croydon, South London.
But his personality then changed dramatically in the sixth form after being lured into extremism online.
The pal went on: “He watched a lot of extreme videos including those posted by Choudary and his followers. Everyone used to say to him, ‘But he’s a hate cleric and hates the West’ but he didn’t care. He became a huge fan.
“He admired Anjem, said he was right and his cause was right. It disgusted me. We were all very, very worried.
“He became totally radicalised through the internet and now he’s a suspect in something as evil as this. It’s horrendous.”
Despite Ali’s radicalisation, relatives claimed he had trained to become an NHS doctor after spending four years at a top medical school.
‘EXTREME VIDEOS’
He had been previously referred to the Government’s Prevent anti-terror scheme but investigators are still piecing together how and when he became radicalised.
Sources have said Ali did not say anything of note during the attack on Tory MP Sir David Amess but was seen using his mobile phone moments afterwards.
He was said to have sat down calmly to wait for cops and picked up his phone before his arrest.
It’s not known whether he used the phone to record any comments after the attack or to send a message to a third party.
But the actions, seen by witnesses in the room, are understood to be at the centre of why investigators labelled the attack a “terror incident,” The Telegraph reports.
Sources said Ali’s online contacts — and what material he viewed — were now “prime movers” in the investigation.
Sources close to the investigation believe Ali may have considered killing other MPs, including Labour and Tory politicians, before picking Amess, who was “unlucky,” The Telegraph reports.
Police yesterday made extensive searches of Ali’s home in Kentish Town as well as his father’s house in Bounds Green, both North London, and his mother’s in Croydon, in the south of the city.
Friends of his highly educated and well-connected family spoke of their shock at Ali’s arrest and claimed he was studying medicine.
His dad Harbi is a former spokesman for the Somali government who fled to London to escape civil war.
Ali’s uncle Awale Kullane is Somalia’s ambassador to China.
One aunt, who asked not to be named, said: “The family are extremely well educated and well connected politically.
“We are all devastated and so sorry for the loss of Sir David Amess. This has all come as a terrible shock. Harbi is beside himself. He brought up his son to be a good boy.”
PASir David Amess was a passionate defender of animal rights[/caption]
Sir David Amess with his wife Julie at daughter Alexandra’s wedding with his other girls as bridesmaids in August
RexDavid and Julia Amess with their children Alexandra, David And Katherine[/caption]