Scotland Yard arrests 13-year-old for Islamist terror offence in Britain

A 13-year-old boy was arrested by Scotland Yard on Wednesday for a terrorism offence.

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A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in Britain for a terrorism offence as a part of an ongoing investigation associated to the alleged sharing of utmost Islamist materials on-line, Scotland Yard mentioned right here on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Police mentioned its Counter-Terrorism Command arrested {the teenager} at a west London tackle on Tuesday on suspicion of dissemination of terrorist materials opposite to Section 2 of the UK’s Terrorism Act 2006.

“The investigation relates to the alleged sharing of extreme Islamist material online,” the Met Police mentioned.

If he goes on to be charged and convicted, {the teenager} will develop into the youngest particular person within the UK to be discovered responsible of a terror offence.

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“While it is still very rare for such a young person to be arrested for a terrorism offence, in recent times we have seen a worrying increase in the number of teenagers being drawn into terrorism,” mentioned Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

“This particular investigation remains ongoing, but more broadly, we work closely with a whole range of partners to try and protect and divert young, vulnerable people away from extremism and terrorism,” he mentioned.

The boy was detained beneath the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) and brought into custody earlier than being bailed to seem in courtroom in mid-June. A PACE warrant to look the west London tackle was obtained by officers and has now been carried out. The Met Police mentioned its officers will work carefully with companions from baby safeguarding businesses because the investigation continues.

Commander Smith mentioned the general public have an vital half to play, as he urged anybody who thinks a good friend or relative is turning into “radicalised or drawn into a path towards terrorism” to contact the pressure as a part of the ACT Early technique or Action Counters Terrorism Early. There can also be an app referred to as iREPORTit for folks to report such terror associated issues.

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