Yet another convert to Islam somehow gets the idea that his new religion commands him to commit treason and mass murder. Authorities everywhere remain resolutely incurious about this recurring phenomenon. British authorities should be investigating how and why Ludlow fell in with Choudary. But they won’t be.

“‘I spit at this country’: British Muslim convert was on anti-terror course when he scoped out Oxford Street and Madame Tussauds for attacks after going to Anjem Choudary rallies,” by Richard Spillett and Duncan Gardham, Mailonline, January 4, 2019:

A British-born Muslim convert said ‘I spit at Britain’ in an ISIS allegiance video as he plotted to slaughter shoppers in a ‘ram attack’ outside Oxford Street’s Disney store.

Lewis Ludlow, a former Royal Mail worker from the upmarket Kent town of Rochester, became radicalised after converting to Islam and attending the poppy-burning rallies of hate preacher Anjem Choudary.

The 27-year-old then tried to join a new ISIS group in the Philippines, but was stopped from travelling and so began hatching plans for an attack in London.

He plotted a vehicle attack on Oxford Street or Madame Tussauds while, at the same time, meeting officials from the deradicalisation programme Prevent.

The convert had been offered three different courses of deradicalisation since he first came to the group’s attention in 2008, but repeatedly failed to show up.

Investigators then found a torn-up letter setting out his vehicle attack plot, and a video in which he said: ‘I pledge allegiance to Islamic State and it’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi… I want nothing from Britain and I spit at this country.’

An investigation revealed he was preparing to drive a van into shoppers on Oxford Street or near tourist hotspot Madame Tussauds.

Prosecutor Mark Dawson told an earlier hearing: ‘This was a plot to cause mass fatalities using a vehicle in Oxford Street targeting among other places the Disney store or pedestrians in and around Oxford Street at its busiest times.

‘In one of his notes he talks of causing upwards of 100 fatalities.’

Ludlow was under surveillance when he was observed at an internet cafe on Portland Street in London’s West End on March 16this year where he researched ‘busy shopping centres.’

He wrote notes on his planned attack, including: ‘Long road with no bollards or barriers preventing a van mounting the pavement.’

Ludlow admitted charges of preparing acts of terrorism and funding terror and was sentenced today.

He was once attracted to the far-Right and expressed admiration for Hitler – but turned to Islam after his aunt was ill and soon became radicalised.

The 27-year-old, who has autism, told the court he felt accepted by Choudary and his gang after being bullied at school.

Ludlow had been offered three different courses of de-radicalisation, a court has heard.

He had attended a series of 17 meetings of the Prevent de-radicalisation programme beginning on October 20 2017 and attended one on the day he conducted his surveillance in Oxford Street.

In December 2008, he start ‘community mentoring’ at a local mosque. …

In a video message Ludlow said his allegiance was to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS and added: ‘May his name strike terror into your hearts.’

He went on: ‘I am the Eagle and I pledge allegiance to Dawlatul Islam [ISIS].

‘I have grew up amongst you filthy [word unclear] I learnt your culture, your ways of life and your disgusting debauchery. I reject all of this.

‘I am amongst you as someone who has given dawah [proselytising] for many years and as one who has studied the deen [religion] of Islam.

‘There is nothing between us except animosity and hatred. We love death as much as you love life so therefore, my allegiance is to Islamic State.

‘I have nothing for this country of Britain. I spit on your citizenship, your passport, you can go to hell with that.

‘So be ready, for we too are waiting. Signed off, The Eagle’.’