Authorities in the U.K. have charged two British-Lebanese men with belonging to Hezbollah and attending terrorism training camps, police said on Tuesday.
Annis Makki, 40, faces six charges including membership in the Iranian-backed group banned in the U.K. since 2019, attending a terrorist training camp at Birket Jabbour Airbase in Lebanon in 2021, preparing terrorist acts and expressing support for Hezbollah and Hamas, another terrorist organization designated by the home secretary and banned under U.K. law. Prosecutors say Makki had access to a network linked to acquiring drone parts.
Mohamed Hadi Kassir, 33, faces three charges including Hezbollah membership and attending a training camp in Baffliyeh in Southern Lebanon in 2015 and at Birket Jabbour Airbase in 2021. Kassir pleaded not guilty.
The men were initially arrested at London homes in April and rearrested last week before being charged with nine total terrorism offenses. A prosecutor told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that Kassir was an entrenched member who trained in hostage-taking exercises.
Both men were remanded in custody until a Jan. 16 hearing at London’s Old Bailey.
Cmdr. Dominic Murphy of Counter Terrorism Policing London said there is no ongoing threat to the public from the two men’s activities. The investigation involved collaboration with overseas law enforcement.
