London police have arrested a 47-year-old man in connection with online posts that allegedly showed support for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. The arrest took place on Tuesday, May 14, in south west London. The man was suspected of violating section 12 of the Terrorism Act, 2000, which prohibits showing support for a terrorist organization.
The case was initially reported to the national Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit, who then passed it on to the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command for further investigation. Officers conducted a search at the man’s residence as part of the ongoing investigation.
After being taken into custody, the man was later released on bail and is expected to return to court in early August. The investigation into the matter is still ongoing.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, noted that there has been a significant increase in the number of extremist and terrorist materials being reported by the public, especially since the recent conflicts in Israel. He assured the public that every referral is carefully assessed by specialist officers, and if there is evidence of terrorism offences, appropriate action will be taken.
While supporting terrorist organizations is strictly prohibited, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious activities to the authorities. The fight against terrorism depends on the active involvement of the public, and every report contributes to the efforts in maintaining national security.
As investigations continue, London police are committed to taking necessary actions to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens.