Three Men Face Charges Following Targeted Attacks on Pakistani Dissidents in Britain
Three British nationals have been formally charged by counter-terrorism police following what authorities describe as a series of highly targeted attacks against two prominent Pakistani dissidents residing in the United Kingdom. The alleged assaults, which occurred in Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire, targeted supporters of the jailed former Pakistani prime minister, Imran Khan.
Police Raids and Arrests Across Multiple Regions
This week, law enforcement conducted a significant operation involving seven coordinated raids and subsequent arrests across London, Essex, and the Midlands. This police action was initiated in response to four separate attacks, the first of which reportedly took place on Christmas Eve. The investigation has now been taken over by specialist counter-terror police units due to the concerning and deliberate nature of these incidents.
Details of the Charges and Defendants
The three individuals charged on Friday are all British citizens and are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday. The charges relate to specific alleged incidents:
- Karl Blackbird, 40, from Bedworth: Charged with conspiracy to assault occasioning actual bodily harm concerning two alleged attacks on 24 December.
- Clark McAulay, 39, from Coventry: Charged with conspiracy to assault occasioning actual bodily harm related to an incident in Chesham.
- Doneto Brammer, 21, from Wood Green, London: Faces multiple serious charges in connection with the alleged attack on 31 December at the Cambridgeshire home of one victim. These charges include possession of a prohibited weapon, conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, and conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
Victim's Account and Ongoing Fear
One of the victims is Mirza Shahzad Akbar, a 48-year-old human rights lawyer and former member of Imran Khan's cabinet. Akbar provided a harrowing account to the Guardian, stating that a man knocked on his door, verified his identity, and then proceeded to punch him up to thirty times. He is currently in hiding, expressing profound fear for his own safety and that of his family.
"They are trying to scare and intimidate me, and I am pretty scared. I fear for my life and for my family's lives," Akbar said. He further identified himself as a Pakistani dissident living in exile and an open critic of the current Pakistani regime, which he claims is backed by the military. While he stated he could not definitively identify the perpetrators, he asserted, "one thing is certain: it was a targeted attack and the people who attacked were probably hired by someone."
Wider Police Investigation and Open Inquiries
The police operation extended beyond these charges. Earlier arrests included a 34-year-old man in Essex on 5 January, who was later released on bail. On Wednesday, five additional individuals were detained, including the three now charged. A 30-year-old man in Birmingham and a 40-year-old woman in north London were also arrested and subsequently released on bail. A seventh arrest occurred on Friday, involving a 25-year-old man in Warwickshire, who remains in custody at a London police station.
Counter-terrorism detectives have also executed a series of searches at properties in Birmingham, Coventry, Warwickshire, and London. Authorities have emphasised that the investigation remains active and ongoing. A police statement noted: "Detectives are keeping an open mind as to any potential motivation behind the incidents. Officers are also keeping an open mind as to whether any of the incidents are potentially linked, and this remains an active line of inquiry being considered."
