A preacher known for influencing the 7/7 bombers has commended the White Widow while serving time in a high-security prison. Shaikh Abdullah al Faisal, aged 62, is currently incarcerated in a maximum-security facility in New York, where he is serving an 18-year sentence for his involvement with ISIS.
Al Faisal, a fiery jihadist, was deported from the UK in 2007 after a seven-year sentence for inciting murder. US prosecutors labeled him as one of the most influential English-speaking terrorists, attributing to him the recruitment of numerous extremists, including notorious figures like Richard Reid and Zacarias Moussaoui.
Despite his imprisonment, Al Faisal continues to express his extremist views. Recently, he warned about the radicalization efforts of ISIS and Al Qaeda, emphasizing their influence on a new generation of extremists. He openly praised Samantha Lewthwaite, the White Widow, known for orchestrating the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Kenya, describing her as “very kind.”
In response, a survivor of the 7/7 bombings criticized Al Faisal’s desire to return to the UK to “deradicalize young Muslim individuals.” Sajda Mughal, who survived the 2005 attacks, expressed discomfort at Al Faisal’s ongoing ability to spread his ideologies from prison, emphasizing the risks associated with allowing him a platform.
Former Head of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office, Chris Phillips, raised concerns about Al Faisal’s communication access, highlighting the dangers of allowing such individuals to influence others from behind bars. The Mirror contacted Al Faisal via a secure messaging service, revealing his intent to return to the UK two decades after the 7/7 attacks.
Al Faisal’s history includes radicalizing individuals like Germaine Lindsay, the 7/7 bomber, but he deflects responsibility, attributing radical views to external factors like Tony Blair and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also claimed to have facilitated Lewthwaite’s marriage after her husband’s death in the 7/7 attacks, showcasing his continued influence over extremist circles.
Al Faisal’s contentious statements and actions have drawn global attention, leading to his extradition to the US in 2020 and subsequent conviction in 2023. Despite his denial of the charges, officials describe him as a significant threat to global security, emphasizing the need to curb his extremist rhetoric.