Teen arrested for terror offence following stop at airport

A 17-year-old has been arrested by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command on suspicion of a terrorism offence after he was initially stopped by police using 'schedule 7' counter terrorism powers as he returned to the UK on a flight into London Gatwick Airport.

The teenager was stopped under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act (TACT), 2000 on 2 June. 

Officers also examined his mobile phone during the stop and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of dissemination of terrorist material, contrary to section 2, TACT, 2006.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command said: "We work closely with other partner agencies to monitor our ports and borders and the powers available to us under schedule 7 help us to keep the UK safe from potential terrorist threats.

"This is also another example of a teenager being arrested for terrorism offences and it is a concerning trend that we have been seeing for some time. 

"Our message to parents, carers, friends and family is that if you have any worries or concerns about a loved-one being radicalised or drawn into extremism or terrorism, then please ACT Early and get in touch so that we can help before it could be too late.”

The 17-year-old boy was interviewed at a London police station and has been released on bail until a date in July. The investigation relates to extreme Islamist-related material.

As part of the investigation, officers have also carried out a search at a residential address in south west London and enquiries remain ongoing.