Overview
- Counter Terrorism Policing London charged the unnamed 14‑year‑old on July 15 with preparation of terrorist acts under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 and with racially aggravated criminal damage.
- Police say the boy was arrested at a south London address on July 9 after an earlier inquiry into damage to a vehicle on June 20 and that officers found a number of documents of concern during searches.
- The terrorism charge relates to an alleged plan to target two mosques in the Sutton area and the suspect was remanded to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on July 16.
- Metropolitan Police investigators say they are not seeking any other suspects, have contacted the mosques and the damaged‑vehicle victim, and have increased patrols while offering specialist support to the affected communities.
- Senior counterterrorism officials warned about a rise in children in extremism casework and urged parents, schools and communities to use early‑intervention resources such as the ACT Early programme to help prevent radicalisation.