13-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of Islamist terror offences

The teenager was detained at an address in West London yesterday, after allegedly disseminating material likely to be of use to terrorists.

He was detained under Police and Criminal Evidence powers and taken into police custody.

Scotland Yard said he had now been released on police bail until a date in mid-June.

The investigation relates to the sharing of extreme Islamist material online.

Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “While it is still rare for such a young person to be arrested for a terrorism offence, in recent times we have 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 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.”