Teen Charged with Terror Plot Targeting London Mosques

A 14‑year‑old boy from south London has been charged with an offence related to extremist right‑wing terrorism after police searches uncovered an alleged plot to attack two mosques.

He was arrested on 9 July on suspicion of criminal damage to a vehicle, but officers who visited his address discovered “a number of documents of concern,” according to the Metropolitan Police.

The terrorism charge stems from an alleged plan to target two mosques in the Sutton area of south London. The force said the affected mosques had been contacted and were being supported by specialist officers, and that they were not seeking any other suspects in connection with the plot.

Following further inquiries by counter‑terrorism police working with the Crown Prosecution Service, the child was charged with preparation of terrorist acts on or before 9 July, as well as racially aggravated damage to property for allegedly damaging a car window on or before 20 June, also in Sutton.

Helen Flanagan, head of counter‑terrorism policing for London, said: “This is a serious terrorism charge against a young person and is likely to be deeply concerning to the public and the local community.”

She added: “While it is deeply concerning to see someone so young charged with offences of this nature, we are sadly seeing an increasing number of children and young people in our casework.”

DCS Nick Blackburn, who leads local policing in south London, said: “We should not underestimate the cumulative impact of incidents of this nature on the Muslim community.”

These charges come just days after 12 people were arrested on suspicion of a threat to an Islamic festival in Suffolk and a man was arrested on suspicion of an alleged assault outside a mosque in Leyton.

We have been working closely with our colleagues from counter‑terrorism policing London throughout their investigation and we have increased patrols in the affected areas, which we will look to continue over the coming days.”

Last month, new national guidance from the Muslim Council of Britain advised mosques in the UK to carry out lockdown drills, strengthen ties with police and improve CCTV coverage, amid growing concerns about anti‑Muslim attacks.

The guidance warned that Muslim places of worship faced an increasing threat from vandalism, intimidation, threats and targeted hostility.

The boy’s arrest follows a series of incidents targeting Muslim communities, including a “potential serious threat” to an event in Suffolk, racist riots in Belfast last month, and attempted firebombings, vandalism and violent attacks on mosques in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Blackburn, Manchester, Liverpool, Shrewsbury and east London.

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