Islamic State fanatics 'urged to target Prince George at school'
ISLAMIC State fanatics were encouraged to attack Prince George on a secret message service for terrorists, a court was told yesterday.
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Husnain Rashid is accused of sharing a photograph of Prince William’s four-year-old son and the silhouette of a jihadi fighter.
The picture was captioned “even the Royal Family will not be left alone” and the address of George’s school was said to have been included in the material.
Details of the charges levelled at Rashid, 31, emerged when he appeared before Westminster magistrates’ court yesterday.
Rebecca Mundy, prosecuting, said Rashid used an encrypted message service to communicate with IS followers.
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There was a photo of the young Prince George at the beginning of the school term next to a silhouette of an IS fighter
Describing one message, she said: “There was a photo of the young Prince George at the beginning of the school term next to a silhouette of an IS fighter.”
Bearded and bespectacled Rashid, who appeared in grey prison issue jogging top and bottoms, stared impassively ahead as the prosecutor summarised the case.
He spoke only to identify himself at the hearing but indicated that he would plead not guilty to the charges.
The defendant is also accused of calling for attacks on the Jewish community and British sports stadiums and planning to leave the UK and fight for IS in Syria.
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He is charged with one count of preparing to commit terrorist acts and one count of assisting others to commit acts of terror.
Referring to the first charge, Ms Mundy said: “That relates to his intention to travel to Syria to engage in the fighting out there.”
Turning to the second, she said: “It is alleged this defendant has set up a number of channels on which he broadcasts material to assist terrorists. They actively provide practical assistance and the intention is that readers will go on to commit acts of terrorism.”
Rashid, of Nelson, Lancs, was remanded in custody for a hearing at the Old Bailey on December 20.
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Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said: “I’m sending this case to the Central Criminal Court.”
Rashid was arrested last month during raids by Lancashire Police and Counter Terrorism Policing.
An officer said at the time: “I want to reassure people that our information and intelligence lead us to believe that there is no immediate threat to local people.”
