Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command is investigating a series of “highly targeted” attacks on Pakistani dissidents in the United Kingdom. These attacks, suspected to involve States using criminal proxies to silence critics, have led to one person being detained after four incidents since Christmas eve. The attacks, including one involving a firearm, targeted two prominent supporters of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire, as reported by The Guardian.
The initial two attacks occurred on Christmas eve, with one taking place in Buckinghamshire’s Chesham where intruders vandalized a dissident’s residence early in the morning. Another attack targeted human rights lawyer Mirza Shahzad Akbar, a vocal critic of Pakistan’s current government. Akbar described being physically assaulted by a masked man at his doorstep, leading to his family’s relocation and subsequent attacks on his property.
Akbar detailed the harrowing experiences, mentioning that after leaving his home briefly on December 31, his house was targeted again within minutes by individuals captured on CCTV. The assailants fired shots at his residence and attempted to set it on fire before fleeing upon being noticed by neighbors. Subsequent attacks on Akbar’s property occurred, with racist graffiti sprayed on his home during the third incident on January 10.
Mirza Shahzad Akbar, a Pakistani dissident living in exile, emphasized the targeted nature of the attacks, indicating potential involvement of hired individuals. He expressed concerns over the UK authorities’ political will to uncover the perpetrators behind the assaults. A 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with the December 31 incident, suspected of attempted arson and possession of a firearm, and has been released on bail pending further investigation.
