A renowned boxer is facing accusations of masterminding a ‘hitman-for-hire’ scheme targeting two Pakistani dissidents residing in the United Kingdom.
Louis Regan is alleged to have orchestrated attacks on Mirza Shahzad Akbar and Adil Raja, reportedly planning the strikes for the early hours of Christmas Eve.
Authorities claim Regan led a group of three men in a ‘planned and sophisticated’ operation to ambush the individuals at their homes, located in Cambridge and Chesham, Buckinghamshire.
Mirza Shahzad Akbar is known as a human rights lawyer and a former adviser to the Pakistani government, having served in the cabinet of the country’s imprisoned former Prime Minister, Imran Khan.
Adil Raja, on the other hand, is a vocal critic of the Pakistani government, frequently addressing alleged corruption within the nation’s military.
Regan, a 25-year-old from Birmingham, is currently a second-year sport and exercise science student at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent. He gained national attention as a boxing prodigy, winning the National Schools boxing championship at the tender age of 14.
He went on to represent his country at the European tournament, before working as a coach at his boyhood club, the Pat Benson Boxing Academy.
The athlete appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, after he was charged on Saturday with two counts of conspiracy to assault occasioning bodily harm.
Regan (pictured when younger), who is a second-year sport and exercise science student at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent, was crowned National Schools boxing champion aged just 14
The athlete (left) appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, after he was charged on Saturday with two counts of conspiracy to assault occasioning bodily harm
Mr Akbar (pictured) is a human rights lawyer and former Pakistani government adviser, who served in the country’s cabinet under its jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan
Meanwhile, Mr Raja (pictured) is an outspoken critic of the Pakistani government and has written about the alleged corruption of the country’s military
He was remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at London’s Old Bailey on February 13.
Prosecutor Warren Stanier explained: ‘When Mr Akbar confirmed he was the person, he was then assaulted, punched numerous times to the face, causing him bruising, cuts and a broken nose.’
He continued: ‘A group attended Mr Raja’s address at 8am, but Mr Raja wasn’t in.’
This came after several reconnaissance trips to the pair’s houses, the lawyer added.
Regan helped run boxing programmes for local students and was involved in a half-term project in collaboration with the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.
He is now understood to live and work in Dubai, as a ‘qualified England boxing coach’ and ‘personal trainer’, according to his social media.
The boxer will be joined at the Old Bailey next month by co-defendants Karl Blackbird, 40, Clark McAulay, 39, and Doneto Brammer, 21.
All three men, who are British nationals, were charged on Friday and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, where they were remanded in custody.
Blackbird, from Bedworth, Warwickshire, has been accused of two charges of conspiracy to assault occasioning bodily harm for both attacks.
McAulay, from Coventry, West Midlands, has been charged with conspiracy to assault occasioning bodily harm over the hit on Mr Raja.
Brammer, from Wood Green, north London, has been accused over a second incident on New Year’s Eve of the same year, which saw an attempt to set Mr Akbar’s house on fire.
Two men are believed to have attacked the property while no one was home, with one using a firearm to break a window before one tried to throw a burning rag through it.
The material fell to the ground outside the property and did not cause any damage.
Brammer is charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, and conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
A man, 34, was also arrested at an address in Great Dunmow, Essex, over the incident on January 5. He has been released on bail until a date in April, pending further enquiries.
Blackbird, McAulay, Brammer and two others were arrested on January 21 variously across the West Midlands, Warwickshire and London over the Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve attacks.
All were brought to a London police station, in a joint effort by officers from London, Warwickshire and the West Midlands, as well as Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands.
Blackbird, McAulay and Brammer were all arrested at addresses in their respective home counties and cities of Warwickshire, Coventry and London.
A man, 30, was also arrested at an address in Birmingham on suspicion of conspiracy to commit assault in the attack on Mr Akbar’s Cambridge home on Christmas Eve.
A woman, 40, was also arrested at a north London address on suspicion of possession of a firearm linked to the New Year’s Eve ambush at his property.
They were both released on bail until dates in April.
Regan was arrested at an address in Warwickshire on Friday and also taken into custody at a London police station.
After all the arrests were made, officers also searched four properties in Birmingham, two in London and one each in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Regan (right), 25, from Birmingham, allegedly organised the simultaneous hits on Mirza Shahzad Akbar and Adil Raja at 8am on Christmas Eve last year
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson previously said the ‘highly targeted nature’ of the incidents has seen the investigation assigned to officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London.
They explained: ‘Detectives are keeping an open mind as to any potential motivation behind the incidents.
‘Officers are also keeping an open mind as to whether any of the incidents are potentially linked, and this remains an active line of inquiry being considered.’
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is encouraged to contact police in confidence on 0800 789321 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
