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​Islamic State Supporter Who Ordered Prince George Attacks Admits Terror Charges

​Islamic State Supporter Who Ordered Prince George Attacks Admits Terror Charges

Rashid will be sentenced on 28 June at Woolwich Crown Court for the offences, which span from October 2016 to April 2018

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

An Islamic State supporter who pushed for jihadis to attack young royal Prince George has pleaded guilty to a string of terror charges.

In a dramatic change of plea, Husnain Rashid, 32, admitted to three counts of engaging in conduct in preparation to terrorist acts, the BBC reports - as well as one count of encouraging terrorism.

Rashid, who hails from Nelson, Lancashire, will be sentenced on 28 June at Woolwich Crown Court for the offences, which span from October 2016 to April 2018.

Police handout

Judge Andrew Lees told Rashid: "For the past week I have listened to the most disturbing allegations.

"You have admitted these allegations of encouraging others to commit terrorist activities and publishing statements to encourage the killing of others.

"It is inevitable that you will receive a very lengthy prison sentence and there will be a consideration of a life prison sentence."

He added: "The question of your future dangerousness and the protection of the public is a matter that I will have to give very careful consideration."

PA

Back in October, Rashid used a chat group to urge Islamic State supporters to target four-year-old Prince George, who had started at school in south-west London at Thomas's Battersea a month beforehand.

"Even the royal family will not be left alone," Rashid messaged the group, also posting the school's address and postcode.

"School starts early," he added.

Prosecutors also said that Rashid encouraged terrorism by posting a photograph of the young prince super-imposed with silhouettes of two masked jihad fighters.

Prosecutor Annabel Darlow told the court last week that 'the underlying message was clear', adding that the message was that 'Prince George and other members of the royal family should be viewed as targets'.

Another time, Rashid also posted a photograph of the Burmese ambassador to the UK, telling the group: "You know what to do."

He also 'hurled' a phone containing a 'treasure trove' of evidence over a wall and into an alleyway near his home when police stormed his house last November.

As well as this, the court heard about other plots, including one with a British terrorist in Syria that involved bringing down an aircraft with lasers, along with a list of targets that included British Army bases, shopping centres, Jewish communities and government buildings.

On the first day of the trial, Darlow said: "His proposals were indiscriminate and made no distinction between adult and child, between members of fighting forces and civilians."

Featured Image Credit: Police handout/PA

Topics: terrorism, UK News, News, Prince George, Royal Family