Three men in UK court accused of targeting opponents of Pakistan’s government

Three men appeared in a London court on Saturday accused of being part of a conspiracy to target YouTuber Adil Raja and former accountability czar Shahzad Akbar in Britain and attack them on Christmas Eve last year.

The men, all British, were part of a “sophisticated and planned agreement” to go to the houses of the two at almost exactly the same time on December 24 and assault them, prosecutor Warren Stanier told Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutors say Akbar, a former adviser to jailed ex-premier and PTI founder Imran Khan, was struck many times in the face after opening the door to his house in Cambridge, central England, to a masked man who had asked for him by name.

Meanwhile, two men called at Raja’s home in Chesham, to the northwest of London, and tried to force entry. Raja, who was convicted in absentia in January of terrorism-related offences linked to online support for Imran, was not there at the time.

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A week later, two men, one of whom was suspected of having a firearm, are believed to have broken a window at Akbar’s address and attempted to throw a burning rag inside. However, it did not cause any damage.

Police said because of the “highly targeted nature of the incidents”, the investigation was being led by counter-terrorism offices.

Karl Blackbird, 40, is accused of two counts of conspiracy to assault and cause actual bodily harm, while Chris McAulay, 39, faces a single count of the same charge. Doneto Brammer, 21, is charged with possession of a firearm and conspiracy to commit arson.

The three men, who did not indicate a plea, were remanded in custody until their next appearance at London’s Old Bailey Court on February 13.

Three other men have also been arrested in connection with the investigation, but have either been released or not charged with any offence as yet.