Teenager due in court charged with terrorism offences

A proactive investigation by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command has led to a 17-year-old being charged with terrorism offences.

Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command arrested the 17-year-old boy at an address in Twickenham on Tuesday, 24 September and he was taken to a west-London police station. The boy was detained under the Terrorism Act 2000, and officers subsequently obtained a warrant of further detention, allowing them to keep him in custody up until Tuesday, 1 October.

Officers continued to carry out further enquiries over the course of the following days, including searches at two addresses in the Twickenham area, and this resulted in the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the following charges:

• One count of support of a proscribed organisation (namely ISIS), contrary to section 11, TACT 2000
• One count of possession of a document of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to section 58, TACT 2000

He was charged in the early hours of this morning and is due to appear at Westminster Youth Court on Tuesday, 1 October.

Acting Commander Gareth Rees, from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “It is of deep concern that we are seeing increased numbers of young people in our counter terrorism investigations. While we won't be commenting further on this particular case now that charges have been brought about, I would, however, urge parents, friends and family to be mindful of the risks and dangers of radicalisation and to act early and reach out for help if they have any concerns over a loved one."

Visit the ACT Early website – www.actearly.uk – to find out how you can seek help and support for anyone who you suspect may be being radicalised.