The UK Prosecution Service has withdrawn allegations involving the National Security Act and foreign power provisions in the case concerning former accountability adviser Mirza Shahzad Akbar and ex-military officer and YouTuber Adil Raja. Both men were violently attacked at their homes in late 2025 and early 2026.
The attacks occurred in December 2025 and January 2026 at Akbar’s residence in Cambridge and Raja’s home in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. In a significant development at the Old Bailey on Friday, the prosecution announced it would no longer rely on charges linked to the National Security Act 2023 or claims related to a foreign power, substantially narrowing the scope of the case.
The prosecution described the defendants as “hired thugs” involved in an “orchestrated” series of assaults, implying possible involvement of additional organizers behind the alleged conspiracy. When questioned by the judge about the removal of the National Security Act element, the prosecutor indicated this was because the defendants likely did not know they were acting on behalf of a foreign power.
Six of the eight defendants appeared in court and pleaded not guilty. One defendant sought dismissal of the charges, while another declined to attend the hearing. Among those denying conspiracy to assault Akbar and causing actual bodily harm are Louis Regan, 26, and his father Mark Regan, 53, both from Birmingham, Karl Blackbird, 41, from Bedworth, and Liam McGarry, 26. The Regans, Blackbird, and Clark McCaulay, 39, from Coventry, also denied similar charges related to attacks on Raja.
Dylan Martin, 33, denied attempted arson of Akbar’s home and possession of a revolver linked to a New Year’s Eve incident in Cambridgeshire. Additionally, Asid Afsar, 40, of Birmingham, and Doneto Brammer, 22, of London, charged in connection with the incidents, are scheduled to enter pleas later.
Akbar was assaulted at his Cambridge home when a masked individual asked for him by name and then repeatedly punched him, causing facial injuries including a broken nose. Around the same time, two men tried to break into Raja’s Chesham residence, but he was not present. A week later, an arson attempt was made against Akbar’s property.
Due to the targeted nature of the attacks, Counter Terrorism Policing has led the investigation. However, the prosecution’s decision to drop the National Security Act and foreign power elements means they will no longer argue that the assaults were carried out on behalf of, or with assistance from, a foreign power. Consequently, any state-linked aggravating factors will be excluded from the case.
Under section 31 of the National Security Act 2023, the foreign power condition covers conduct instigated, directed, funded, or assisted by a foreign power, as well as acts intended to benefit such entities. The withdrawal suggests prosecutors found insufficient evidence or admissibility issues regarding the foreign power allegations, or deemed them unnecessary to pursue. Prosecutorial guidelines require a realistic prospect of conviction for each charge or element presented.
Both Raja and Akbar have urged police to uncover those truly responsible for orchestrating the attacks. To date, law enforcement has not identified who ordered the assaults. All defendants remain in custody. The Regans, Blackbird, McGarry, and McCaulay are set to stand trial on January 12, 2027, at Nottingham Crown Court. Martin and Brammer will face trial at the same venue starting March 8.
