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Man ‘planned terror attacks at London tourist attractions’
A man who was cleared over a sword attack on police outside Buckingham Palace allegedly went on to plan a series of terror attacks at major tourist attractions.
London’s Madame Tussauds, the capital’s open-top tour buses and the London Pride parade were all potential targets for Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, Woolwich Crown Court heard.
Chowdhury, aged 28, from Luton, denies the claims.
He appeared in court alongside his sister, Sneha Chowdhury, 25, who is accused of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism. She denies the charge.
The court heard that two unarmed police officers had suffered cuts to their hands when they fought to disarm Mr Chowdhury outside Buckingham Palace in August 2017 as he ‘shouted Allahu Akbar’ (God is the greatest).
Chowdhury had claimed he was attempting to kill himself.
After he was cleared by a jury at the Old Bailey, Chowdhury allegedly confided to undercover officers who had him under surveillance since January 2019 that he was planning to attack busy London tourist attractions.
Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC told Woolwich Crown Court that he planned to target Madame Tussauds and an open-top tourist bus and London Pride.
Mr Atkinson said Chowdhury’s sister had ‘better reason than anyone’ to understand what her brother was thinking and wanting to achieve, but she did nothing to stop him.
The prosecution claimed that Chowdhury used her bank account to buy two wooden training swords last March.
He also bought a replica Glock gun and looked into firearms training, Mr Atkinson said.
Chowdhury is charged with one count of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, collecting information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism and of disseminating terrorist publications. He denies all three.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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