Three Men in UK Court Accused of Targeting Opponents of Pakistan’s Government

LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Three men appeared in ‌a ​London court on Saturday accused ‌of being part of a conspiracy to target two opponents ​of the Pakistani government living in Britain and attack them on Christmas Eve last year.

The men, ‍all British, were part of a “sophisticated ​and planned agreement” to go to the houses of the men, Shahzad ​Akbar and ⁠Adil Raja, at almost exactly the same time on December 24 and assault them, prosecutor Warren Stanier told Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutors say Akbar, a former adviser to jailed ex-Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, was struck many times in the face after opening ‌the door to his house in Cambridge, central England, to a masked man ​who ‌had asked for him ‍by name.

Meanwhile, ⁠two men called at the home of former army officer-turned YouTuber Adil Raja in Chesham, to the northwest of London, and tried to force entry. Raja, who was convicted in absentia in January of terrorism-related offences linked to online support for Khan, was not there at the time.

A week later two men, one of whom was suspected to have a ​firearm, are believed to have broken a window at Akbar’s address and attempted to throw a burning rag inside. However, it did not cause any damage.

Police said because of the “highly targeted nature of the incidents”, the investigation was being led by counter-terrorism offices.

Karl Blackbird, 40, is accused of two counts of conspiracy to assault and cause actual bodily harm while Chris McAulay, 39, faces a single count of the same charge. Doneto Brammer, 21, is charged with possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit arson.

The ​three men, who did not indicate a plea, were remanded in custody until their next appearance at London’s Old Bailey Court on February 13.

Three other men have also been arrested in connection with the investigation but have ​either been released or not charged with any offence as yet.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters.