Public urged to stay alert after teenager arrested for terrorism offences

The Met Police are urging the public to be vigilant after a 17-year-old was arrested for terrorism offences.

The teenager was arrested by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command as part of a proactive investigation linked to online terrorist content.

He was arrested at a residential address in North London on suspicion of a number of terrorism offences, including: being involved in the encouragement of terrorism contrary to section 1 of the Terrorism Act (TACT), 2006; dissemination of terrorist publications contrary to section 2 TACT 2006; arranging availability of money or other property for the purposes of terrorism contrary to section 17 TACT, 2000; and possessing a document likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism contrary to section 58 TACT, 2000.

The Met Police said the investigation relates to Islamist terrorism, but it is not linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, Commander Dominic Murphy said: “This is another case where a teenager has been arrested on suspicion of what are serious terrorism offences, and we remain very concerned about the increasing numbers of young people we’re seeing feature in our investigations.

“We have officers working around the clock to counter the threat from terrorism, but the public can also play a big part as well.

“I would urge all Londoners – particularly as we now enter the festive season – to be vigilant when they are out and about in the Capital over the coming days and weeks."

Image by Franz P. Sauerteig from Pixabay