This file photo taken on September 7, 2017, shows Britain's Prince George arriving for his first day of school at Thomas's school in southwest London. (AFP/Pool/Richard Pohle)
LONDON — An alleged Islamic State terror group supporter who encouraged attacks on 4-year-old Prince George of Britain admitted to a string of terror offenses Thursday, two weeks into his trial in London.
Husnain Rashid, who previously said he’d done nothing wrong, switched his plea to guilty on four counts of preparing terrorist acts and encouraging terrorism due to the “overwhelming weight of evidence,” the Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement.
Rashid, 32, a former teacher at a mosque in northwestern England, was accused of using the Telegram messaging site to encourage “lone wolf” attacks and to provide advice on the use of bombs, chemicals, and knives.
Prosecutor Annabel Darlow told the jury that Rashid suggested a range of attacks, including injecting poison into supermarket ice cream and targeting Prince George.
This is an undated court artist sketch file photo by Elizabeth Cook showing Husnain Rashid during his trial. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP, File)
One post included a photo of the young prince, the address of George’s school, a silhouette of a jihadi fighter, and the message, “Even the royal family will not be left alone.”
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The trial, which had been scheduled to last six weeks, was abruptly ended because of the plea. Sentencing is set for June 28.
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