Teen charged in alleged far-right plan involving south London mosques

British police have charged a 14-year-old boy with a terrorism-related offence over an alleged plan involving mosques in south London, the Metropolitan Police said Wednesday. The case has led officers to contact Muslim venues in Sutton and offer security advice and support, police said.

The boy, who has not been named, is accused of conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism, according to the Metropolitan Police. Police said the alleged activity was linked to extreme right-wing ideology.

Helen Flanagan, who leads counterterrorism policing in London, described the charge as highly serious and said it was likely to alarm both the wider public and people living nearby. She said police understood the concern the case would cause for Muslim communities.

Police said they do not believe the matter indicates a broader threat. Flanagan said officers were working with the affected venues to keep them informed and to provide advice, support and reassurance.

Arrest began with criminal damage inquiry

The Metropolitan Police said officers first arrested the teenager on July 9 in connection with criminal damage to a car. During later searches, police said they found documents that led investigators to bring the terrorism-related charge.

The boy is due to appear at a magistrates’ court in London on Thursday, according to police. Because he is a minor, authorities have not identified him publicly.

Detective Chief Superintendent Nick Blackburn, who oversees local policing in south London, said authorities would continue to support Muslim residents after the arrest. Blackburn said police should not underestimate the combined effect of such incidents on the Muslim community.

Other recent cases cited

Al Jazeera and Reuters reported that the charge follows other alleged threats or attacks involving Muslims in the United Kingdom. Earlier this week, British police arrested 12 people in connection with what was described as an extreme right-wing plot targeting an Islamic gathering in Suffolk, in eastern England.

Al Jazeera and Reuters also reported that last month a man was charged with attempted murder linked to terrorism after a suspected anti-Muslim stabbing attack in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Police have not said the south London case is connected to those incidents. Their public statements focused on the charge against the teenager, the alleged extreme right-wing motive and outreach to the mosques named as potential targets in Sutton.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.