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Four men charged with terror offences after London raids Four men charged with terror offences after London raids
(about 2 hours later)
Four men arrested in London have been charged with plotting a terrorist attack, having allegedly sworn an oath to Islamic State, acquired a gun, silencer and ammunition, and carried out “hostile reconnaisance” on a police station and army barracks in the capital. Four young men from London allegedly swore an oath to Islamic State extremists, acquired a gun and used everyday internet tools to plot the shooting dead of police officers or soldiers in the capital, a court heard on Friday .
The men were arrested during counter-terrorism raids in London over the last fortnight. Those charged are medical student Tarik Hassane, 21, Suhaib Majeed, 20, Nyall Hamlett, 24, and Momen Motasim, 21. The men were arrested during counter-terrorism raids in London over the past fortnight and were charged on Friday with preparing to carry out a terrorist attack. Those charged are medical student Tarik Hassane, 21, Suhaib Majeed, 20, Nyall Hamlett, 24, and Momen Motasim, 21.
Police said on Friday they had been charged with the intention of committing acts of terrorism, or assisting others to commit such acts between 8 July and 7 October 2014. Westminster magistrates court heard claims the alleged plot involved the use of Google Street View to conduct “hostile reconnaissance” on Shepherd’s Bush police station and White City Territorial Army barracks. The men are also alleged to have images, sent via Instagram, of two Metropolitan police officers and two community support officers.
They are alleged to have had a copy of an Islamic State fatwa calling for strikes against the United States and its allies in retaliation for their military action against the extremist group in Iraq. As part of a plot it is claimed a gun, silencer and ammunition were obtained, as well as a moped.
Police said the men “arranged for the procurement of a Baikal handgun and ammunition”, and “took possession of a converted Baikal handgun (incorporating a silencer) and six rounds of ammunition”. The alleged terrorist plotters are claimed to have had a copy of a “fatwa” from one of the senior leaders of Islamic State (Isis) calling for strikes against the US and its allies in retaliation for their military action against the extremist group in Iraq.
A fifth man, Nathan Cuffy, 25, was charged with firearms offences. Police said he was alleged to have “transferred a converted Baikal handgun (incorporating a silencer) to Nyall Hamlett”, and “transferred to Nyall Hamlett a magazine containing six rounds of ammunition”. A fifth man, Nathan Cuffy, 25, was charged with firearms offences. Police said he was alleged to have “transferred a converted Baikal handgun (incorporating a silencer) to Nyall Hamlett”, and “transferred to Nyall Hamlett a magazine containing six rounds of ammunition”. Cuffy is not charged under terrorism legislation.
Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command released details of the charges and of the alleged plot they believed had been in preparation. The plotters are alleged to have pleaded allegiance to Isis and were charged with the intention of committing acts of terrorism, or assisting others to commit such acts between 8 July and 7 October 2014.
The charges against the four accused of terrorism offences said they engaged in a series of acts with the intention of committing a terrorist attack or to help others to carry out the act of violence. During that period, in late August, the UK’s terrorist level was raised to severe on the basis of concerns over an attack inspired by extremists in Syria and Iraq. Last Friday police were warned they could be targets of an attack and to be extra vigilant about their personal safety.
First on the list of more than 25 terrorism-related acts of which the men are accused is that they “took an oath of allegiance to the group IS (Islamic State) a proscribed organisation”. Hours after they were charged the five appeared in court, flanked in the dock by more than a dozen police – including plainclothes officers wearing stab-proof vests – and security officers.
Police alleged they gave orders on the “use of secure communications” and set up methods to communicate secretly. Mark Dawson, prosecuting, told the court the case revolved around an alleged plot “albeit not fully formed, to shoot, to kill, police officers or soldiers on the streets of London”. He said the 21 details within the terror charge related to different individuals.
The charges released by police said the four men “demonstrated trade craft by the use of code words for money, mopeds and firearms”. All five men remain in custody and will appear in court again later this month.
They face a series of charges over the obtaining of a gun and ammunition for terrorism purposes. They allegedly discussed the sourcing of a firearm, and researched different makes. The men were arrested by Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command following raids across London.
Police alleged the men: Details of the alleged plot were released by police and emerged in the court hearing, with the four men who are claimed to be plotting a strike on behalf of Isis accused of more than 20 terrorism-related acts.
• Arranged for the procurement of a Baikal handgun and ammunition. It is claimed they “took an oath of allegiance to the group IS (Islamic State), a proscribed organisation”, gave orders on the “use of secure communications” and set up methods to communicate secretly.
• Entered into an agreement to procure a Baikal handgun and ammunition. The four men are alleged to have “demonstrated tradecraft by the use of code words for money, mopeds and firearms”.
• Entered into an agreement to supply a Baikal handgun and ammunition. As part of the plot, some or all of the four are alleged to have obtained a gun and ammunition for terrorism purposes. They allegedly discussed the sourcing of a firearm, and researched different makes.
• Delivered a converted Baikal handgun and six rounds of ammunition. Having acquired the converted gun, they are alleged to have carried out further research on YouTube and also stored the Baikal handgun and ammunition.
• Assisted in the collection and delivery of a converted Baikal handgun and six rounds of ammunition. The plotters are also claimed to have discussed the best moped they could use for an attack and where to hide it in Shepherd’s Bush, west London.
• Took possession of a converted Baikal handgun (incorporating a silencer) and six rounds of ammunition. It is further alleged that as part of the preparations, the men “downloaded and circulated the fatwa of [Abu Muhammad] al-Adnani”, a senior ISIS leader. They allegedly “considered, discussed and decided to act on the fatwa of Adnani” calling for strikes against the west, and “retained an extract from the fatwa of Adnani”.
• Researched on YouTube for Baikal handguns, having taken possession of one. They are alleged to have had copies of extremist material, including two editions of Inspire magazine and an edition of an Isis publication called Dabiq, edition 04 published on 4 October 2014 and containing “among other articles graphic images of the beheading of Steven Sotloff”.
• Stored the Baikal handgun and ammunition. Police said that one man, aged 20, who was arrested on 7 October by counter-terrorism officers, had been released on Friday after the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evidence to charge him.
The details of the charges as released by police said the four men “downloaded and circulated the fatwa of [Abu Muhammad] al-Adnani,”, and “considered, discussed and decided to act on the fatwa of Adnani”, and “retained an extract from the fatwa of Adani”. A woman, 19, who was arrested on Monday, has been released on bail until next week pending further inquiries. Two other arrested men, aged 20 and 21, had already been freed on Monday.
They are alleged to have discussed the best moped they could use for an attack and where to hide it in Shepherds Bush, west London. Throughout this year concern among UK counter-terrorism officials has been mounting about the potential for extremists in Syria to attract young Britons.
They are also alleged to have “conducted hostile reconnaissance utilising Google Street View mapping of Shepherds Bush police station and White City territorial army barracks”.
They allegedly used social media to view and retain images of Metropolitan police and community support officers.
They are alleged to have had copies of extremist material, including two editions of Inspire magazine and an Isis publication called “Dabiq edition 04 published on 4 October 2014 containing among other articles graphic images of the beheading of Steven Sotloff”.
The four men accused of terrorism-related offences and the man accused of firearm offences were to appear in court on Friday afternoon.
Police said that one man, aged 20, who was arrested on 7 October by counter-terrorism officers had been released on Friday after the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was “insufficient evidence to charge at this time”.
A woman, 19, who was arrested on Monday had been released on bail until next week pending further inquiries. Two other arrested men, aged 20 and 21, had already been freed on Monday.