Counter terrorism detectives make arrest after public appeal

A man has been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred at a protest after members of public helped to identify him.

The Met Police had appealed for assistance to identify six men in connection with an investigation into allegations of inciting racial hatred and displaying an article in public that arouses reasonable suspicion of membership or support for a proscribed organisation.

The six men featured in social media footage of a pro-Palestine protest on King Charles Street, central London on 14 October.

A number of people came forward with information and the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command subsequently identified one of the men.

The 24-year-old was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred, contrary to section 18 of the Public Order Act 1986, and taken into custody at a west-London police station and officers searched an address in south-west London.

The man has been bailed to return to a west-London police station in early February.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Thank you to everyone who responded to our appeal. Public reporting is really helping the Met with its investigations into suspected criminality at protests.

“We continue to seek the public’s help to identify five other men we wish to speak with in relation to this particular investigation. Please look at their pictures and get in touch if you have any information that could help us.”

Image by Franz P. Sauerteig from Pixabay