Two Londoners in court charged with attending terrorist training in Lebanon

Two men have been remanded in custody charged with belonging to banned organisation Hezbollah and attending terrorist training in Lebanon. Anis Makki, 40, and Mohammad Hadi Kassir, 33, both of London, have been charged with attending an airbase while terrorist training was being given on September 2 2021. Makki has also been charged with being involved in the preparation of terrorist acts, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. The two dual British-Lebanese nationals stood beside four security guards in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, while their wives sat in the public gallery. Kassir, a cafe manager who studies part-time, pleaded not guilty to attending the training at Birket Jabbour airbase, south Lebanon, in September 2021. He also pleaded not guilty to one count of attending a place while terrorist training was being given on February 22 2015 in Baffliyeh, south Lebanon. The father of four further denied belonging to proscribed organisation Hezbollah between February 21 2015 and December 10 2025, as well as failing to provide a pin number. Makki, a self-employed software designer and father of three young children, was not asked to enter pleas. He has also been charged with expressing an opinion or belief that was supportive of Hamas, expressing an opinion or belief that was supportive of Hezbollah and distributing or circulating a terrorist publication, namely a Hezbollah video. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded both men in custody. He said: “It goes without saying, perhaps, that if you are convicted of these allegations, or some of them, then a custodial sentence is inevitable.” Commander Dominic Murphy, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “These arrests and charges follow a painstaking investigation by detectives of Counter Terrorism Policing London, who have worked closely with a number of overseas law enforcement colleagues during the course of the investigation. “These charges are yet a further demonstration that we will take robust action against anyone here whom we suspect as being involved in terrorist activity. “I want to reassure the public that I do not assess there is an ongoing threat to the wider public as a result of the activities of these two individuals.” The men were first arrested on April 1 at their home addresses before being bailed. They were then rearrested on December 10 and taken into custody before being charged. They will next appear at the Old Bailey on January 16.

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