Alleged Nelson Isis supporter encouraged attacks on Prince George

An alleged Nelson Islamic State supporter has encouraged would-be lone wolf attackers to target Prince George at school, a court has heard.
Husnian Rashid court illustration (BBC).Husnian Rashid court illustration (BBC).
Husnian Rashid court illustration (BBC).

Husnain Rashid provided an "e-toolkit for terrorism" in a "prolific" online channel he ran named the Lone Mujahid, Woolwich Crown Court was told today, with the 32-year-old also having called for ice creams to be poisoned and for the four-year-old prince to be targeted at Thomas's Battersea in south-west London, jurors heard.

"His proposals were indiscriminate and made no distinction between adult and child, between members of fighting forces and civilians," said Prosecutor Annabel Darlow. "His suggestions included injecting poison into supermarket ice creams and targeting Prince George at his first school."

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Rashid is charged with encouraging terrorism by posting a photograph of the prince, along with the address of the four-year-old's school, a silhouette of a jihad fighter and the message: "Even the royal family will not be left alone".

Other targets included the Halloween Parade in New York and railway stations in Australia, Ms Darlow said, with Rashid having specialised in supporting lone attackers providing assistance with "every conceivable type of attack", including the use of bombs, chemicals, and knives.

He also communicated with a British terrorist in Syria named Omar Ali Hussain, advising him on how to make successful attacks including bringing down aircraft with lasers, Ms Darlow told the court.

Rashid is also accused of posting a photograph of the Burmese ambassador to the UK and saying: "You know what to do", urging others to "fight and spill the blood to the apes in your land" and calling for others to "start preparing tools and weapons/explosives".

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Rashid, of Leonard Street in Nelson, has denied three counts of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, one count of encouraging terrorism, two of dissemination of a terrorist publication, and one of failing to comply with a notice under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

The allegations span a period between October 2016 and April this year. The trial, expected to last six weeks, continues.