Man 'planned UK attacks on Pakistani dissidents'

An alleged "hitman for hire" has appeared in court accused of planning violent attacks on two Pakistani dissidents at their UK homes.

Louis Regan, from Birmingham, is charged with plotting simultaneous assaults on human rights lawyer Mirza Shahzad Akbar and journalist Adil Raja, at 08:00 GMT on Christmas Eve last year.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard Regan, 25, is accused of leading a "planned and sophisticated" plot for both men to be attacked on their doorsteps.

The court heard he allegedly disguised himself in a workman's uniform and mask to attack Akbar - a former Pakistani government adviser - at his Cambridgeshire home, while a group who went to Raja's home found he was not in.

Akbar was a member of the government cabinet under jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Meanwhile, Raja is a critic of the current Pakistani government and has written extensively about alleged corruption in the country's military.

Prosecutor Warren Stanier told the court: "A group attended Mr Raja's address at 8am, but Mr Raja wasn't in."

But the court heard Akbar was at a home when a group, allegedly led by Regan, knocked on his door.

"The prosecution say Mr Regan was the actual attacker that disguised himself in a workman's uniform, hi-vis jacket, helmet, gloves and a mask.

"They knocked on the door of Mr Akbar's house, and 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."

Stanier suggested reconnaissance trips were taken earlier to Akbar's home and Raja's address in Chesham, Buckinghamshire.

Regan, a second year sport and exercise science student at Canterbury University, is accused of being the "controlling mind" behind the two assault plots.

It is alleged he was "a man willing to work for hire, to commit these kind of violent vicious attacks".

Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram remanded Regan into custody ahead of a hearing at London's Old Bailey on 13 February.

The judge described the case against him as being "a hitman for hire for violence".

Regan will be joined at the Old Bailey by co-defendants Karl Blackbird, 40, from Bedworth; Clark McAulay, 39, from Coventry, and Doneto Brammer, 21, from Wood Green, north London.

They all appeared in court for the first time on Saturday and were also remanded in custody.

Blackbird is accused of involvement in both alleged plots, while McAulay is accused of conspiracy to assault Raja.

Brammer is accused over a second incident on New Year's Eve, 2025, when it is said Akbar's home was set alight.

Stainer told the court Regan is not accused of involvement in the second incident.

Regan and Blackbird face two charges of conspiracy to commit assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

McAulay is accused of conspiracy to commit assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Brammer has been 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.

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