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Man Charged With Plotting to Kill U.S. Serviceman in Britain Man Charged With Plotting to Kill U.S. Serviceman in Britain
(about 3 hours later)
LONDON — A 24-year-old man was charged Tuesday with plotting to run over an American serviceman stationed in Britain and then kill him with a knife in an attack echoing the daylight slaughter of a British soldier on a London street two years ago. LONDON — A 24-year-old man was charged Tuesday with plotting to run over an American serviceman stationed in Britain and then kill him with a knife in an attack echoing the daylight slaughter of a British soldier on a London street two years ago.
The man, Junead Ahmed Khan, who was arrested a week ago, appeared in a London court on Tuesday. Between August 2014 and last May, prosecutors said, he and his uncle had planned to travel to Syria and join the Islamic State militant group. But Mr. Khan apparently shifted focus and began to plan the attack, possibly at a United States military base in East Anglia in eastern England, the authorities said.The man, Junead Ahmed Khan, who was arrested a week ago, appeared in a London court on Tuesday. Between August 2014 and last May, prosecutors said, he and his uncle had planned to travel to Syria and join the Islamic State militant group. But Mr. Khan apparently shifted focus and began to plan the attack, possibly at a United States military base in East Anglia in eastern England, the authorities said.
The court heard that Mr. Khan, a delivery driver, had planned to stage a car accident and then kill an American serviceman. The allegation is reminiscent of a grisly killing that shocked Britain in May 2013, when two radicalized British Muslim men of Nigerian descent swerved across multiple lanes of traffic in southeast London and knocked down Lee Rigby, an army bandsman and machine-gunner who had seen combat in Afghanistan.The court heard that Mr. Khan, a delivery driver, had planned to stage a car accident and then kill an American serviceman. The allegation is reminiscent of a grisly killing that shocked Britain in May 2013, when two radicalized British Muslim men of Nigerian descent swerved across multiple lanes of traffic in southeast London and knocked down Lee Rigby, an army bandsman and machine-gunner who had seen combat in Afghanistan.
Shouting “Allahu akbar,” or “God is great,” they cut into Mr. Rigby with knives and a meat cleaver, reportedly with the aim of decapitating him, before dragging his lifeless body into the street and waiting for the police to arrive.Shouting “Allahu akbar,” or “God is great,” they cut into Mr. Rigby with knives and a meat cleaver, reportedly with the aim of decapitating him, before dragging his lifeless body into the street and waiting for the police to arrive.
Mr. Khan’s uncle, Shazib Ahmed Khan, 22 , was charged with planning to join the Islamic State. A third man, who was arrested with the two others, has been released without charge.Mr. Khan’s uncle, Shazib Ahmed Khan, 22 , was charged with planning to join the Islamic State. A third man, who was arrested with the two others, has been released without charge.
“It is alleged that Junead Khan and Shazib Khan had been planning on traveling to Syria to join the proscribed organization Islamic State in the Levant,” said Deborah Walsh, the deputy head of counterterrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service.“It is alleged that Junead Khan and Shazib Khan had been planning on traveling to Syria to join the proscribed organization Islamic State in the Levant,” said Deborah Walsh, the deputy head of counterterrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service.
“It is further alleged that Junead Khan was planning a terrorist attack on U.S. military personnel in the U.K. and he has been charged with an additional terrorism offense to reflect this,” she said. “It is further alleged that Junead Khan was planning a terrorist attack on U.S. military personnel in the U.K. and he has been charged with an additional terrorism offense to reflect this.”.
The arrests were part of a continuing investigation into Islamist terrorism, the police said. Searches reportedly took place at two addresses in Luton, north of London. Officers said the two men live on the same street in Luton.The arrests were part of a continuing investigation into Islamist terrorism, the police said. Searches reportedly took place at two addresses in Luton, north of London. Officers said the two men live on the same street in Luton.