Stock image of police tape
(Picture: PA Wire)A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in west London on suspicion of sharing Islamist terrorist material.
The teenager was detained on Tuesday by officers from the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command and taken into custody before being released on bail until mid-June.
Officers obtained a warrant and have searched his address.
Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “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.
“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.
“The public have an important part to play in this, and we would urge anyone who thinks a friend or relative is becoming radicalised or drawn into a path towards terrorism to ‘ACT Early’.
“Please contact us so that we might be able to get that person the help they need.”
