AN ESSEX teenager has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences.
An 18-year-old man was arrested at an address in Essex on Wednesday, May 18 on suspicion of encouraging terrorism, as part of an ongoing investigation being led by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.
On Thursday, 19 May, a warrant of further detention was granted by Westminster Magistrates’ Court, allowing detectives to keep him in custody until Wednesday, May 25, under terrorism laws.
He is being held at a London police station while enquiries continue.
On Friday, May 20, a 17-year-old girl was arrested at an address in east London as part of the same investigation.
She was arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and taken to a London police station.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court granted detectives power to keep her in custody until Friday, May 27.
The investigation related to alleged offences linked to extreme Islamic ideology, Scotland Yard says.
Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “We have seen three teenagers arrested this week by Met officers for terrorism offences, albeit as part of separate investigations. We need to let this investigation run its course, but it is a further indication of a concerning upward trend in police action against younger people for terrorism-related matters.”
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