A 25-year-old man appeared in court accused of conspiracy to assault human rights lawyer Mirza Shahzad Akbar and journalist Adil Raja at their UK homes on Christmas Eve
A suspected “hitman for hire” has appeared in court accused of masterminding violent assaults on two Pakistani dissidents at their UK homes. Louis Regan, 25, is accused of plotting simultaneous attacks on human rights solicitor Mirza Shahzad Akbar and journalist Adil Raja at 8am on Christmas Eve 2025.
Mr Akbar formerly served in the cabinet under imprisoned ex-Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, whilst Mr Raja is a vocal opponent of Pakistan’s current government who has reported extensively on alleged corruption within the nation’s armed forces.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told Regan is alleged to have orchestrated a “planned and sophisticated” scheme for both men to be targeted on their doorsteps at the same time.
“A group attended Mr Raja’s address at 8am but Mr Raja wasn’t in,” prosecutor Warren Stanier told the court.
However, the court heard Mr Akbar was at home in Cambridgeshire when a group, allegedly headed by Regan, came to his door. Mr Stanier said: “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.”
The prosecutor indicated that visits had been made beforehand to Mr Akbar’s property and Mr Raja’s address in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. Regan, a second-year sport and exercise science student at Canterbury University, is alleged to be a “controlling mind” behind the two assault plots, and 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 ordered Regan, from Birmingham, to be held in custody until a hearing at the Old Bailey on February 13. The judge described the case against Regan as being akin to “a hitman for hire for violence”.
Joining Regan at the Old Bailey will be co-defendants Karl Blackbird, 40, from Bedworth, Clark McAulay, 39, from Coventry, and Doneto Brammer, 21, from Wood Green, north London. All made their initial court appearances on Saturday.
Blackbird stands accused of involvement in both alleged plots to attack Mr Raja and Mr Akbar, while McAulay is charged with conspiracy to assault Mr Raja. Brammer faces charges relating to a second incident on New Year’s Eve last year, when it’s claimed Mr Akbar’s home was set on fire and Brammer was found in possession of a firearm. Mr Stanier informed the court on Monday (January 26) that Regan is not accused of involvement in the second incident.
Regan and Blackbird are facing two charges of conspiracy to commit assault occasioning actual bodily harm, McAulay is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit assault occasioning actual bodily harm, while 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.
Blackbird, McAulay, and Brammer were also remanded in custody on Saturday.
