A 14-year-old boy has been charged with a terrorism offence after police discovered an alleged plan to target two London mosques that was linked to “extreme right-wing terrorism”.
The child was initially arrested at an address on suspicion of criminal damage to a vehicle, but officers searching the location found “a number of documents of concern”, the Metropolitan Police said.
He is accused of planning to target the two places of worship in Sutton.
The boy, who was arrested in the south London area, has been charged with preparation of terrorist acts on or before 9 July, as well as racially aggravated damage to property by allegedly damaging a car window on or before 20 June, the force said.
Cdr Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London, said it was a “very serious terrorism charge against a young boy” and “particularly concerning” to the Muslim community.
She said they were seeing an increasing number of children and young people in their casework.
The affected mosques are receiving support from specialist officers.
Police have also contacted the victim linked to the damaged vehicle which was in Sutton too.
The Met said it was working closely with CTP London on the probe and had increased patrols in affected areas.
