LONDON: The Counter-Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) has withdrawn a terrorism investigation against Adil Raja, a social media activist and former Pakistan Army officer, and no further action would be taken against him in connection with his detention in the 9 May terrorism incitement case.
The YouTuber was arrested in the Chesham area on terrorism charges by CTPSE detectives at Thames Valley Police on June 12, 2023, on suspicion of terrorism offenses in Pakistan related to the May 9 violence, but the police have now decided to close the case due to a “lack of evidence” of Raja’s involvement in terrorist activities, police sources said.
The pro-Imran Khan social media activist was arrested under Section 59 of the UK Terrorism Act 2000.
According to sources, Raja was arrested on the charge of “inciting a non-UK person to do an act outside the UK – terrorism 09/05/2023,” but the police have decided to release the former military officer from the investigation “without charge” and without further action “after considering the evidence and other information that is currently available.”
Raja was detained on accusations of “inciting terrorism” in Pakistan on May 9, 2018, when violent protests erupted following Imran Khan’s detention, resulting in the attacks on various military sites, according to authorities.
The Pakistani authorities had protested to the UK that Raja and Haider Mehdi, a Canadian broadcaster and retired Pakistan army officer, had behaved in breach of the UK laws during a live broadcast, immediately after Khan’s arrest.
