Boy, 14, charged over alleged plan to target mosques

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with terrorism offenses after police discovered a plot allegedly linked to “far-right terrorism” to target two mosques in London.

The Metropolitan Police said the boy was initially arrested at an address in South London on suspicion of criminal damage to a vehicle, but officers found “a number of worrying documents”.

A man accused of planning to target two places of worship in Sutton has been detained.

Police said the man will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with preparations for acts of terrorism on or before July 9 and racially motivated damage to property.

Det Ch Supt Nick Blackburn, head of local policing in south London, said: “These charges come just days after 12 people were arrested for a suspected threat to an Islamic festival in Suffolk and a man was arrested for an alleged assault outside a mosque in Leyton.”

He added: “We should not underestimate the cumulative impact of such events on the Muslim community.”

Major Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Police (CTP) London, said it was a “very serious charge of terrorism against a young boy” and was “particularly concerning” to the Muslim community.

He said they are seeing an increasing number of children and young people in their case studies.

The Met said it was working closely with counter-terrorism teams on the investigation and had increased patrols in affected areas.

The statement said it was not believed to be a “persistent or broader threat” and police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incidents.