Australian terror plot: UK police arrest 14-year-old boy in Blackburn

Teenager, who was first held on 2 April, is re-arrested on suspicion of preparing ‘credible terrorist threat’ linked to alleged plot in Australia


Officers are interviewing the boy on suspicion of preparing for an act of terrorism under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian.

A 14-year-old boy from Lancashire has been arrested on suspicion of preparing a “credible” Islamic State-inspired terror attack in Australia to coincide with a public holiday commemorating Australia’s war dead.

The teenager from Blackburn was questioned over possible links to other young men arrested in Melbourne terror raids over the weekend. He is believed to be the youngest Briton arrested for suspected involvement in a serious international terrorist plot.

The British boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was first arrested on 2 April following “the examination of a number of electronic devices”, according to Greater Manchester police.

Detectives examining the devices alerted colleagues in Australia last week after finding evidence of a “credible terrorist threat”, according to DCS Tony Mole from the north-west counter-terrorism unit.

“The minute we found it we were on to the Australians,” he said, adding that the information directly led to early morning counter-terrorism raids in Melbourne on Saturday.

Later that day, an 18-year-old from Melbourne appeared in court charged with preparing, or planning, a terrorist act.

Sevdet Besim, 18, was one of five men arrested during the Melbourne raids in relation to alleged plans to carry out Islamic State-inspired attacks against police at events to mark Anzac Day (25 April) the centenary of the landings at Gallipoli during the first world war.

The Blackburn boy was re-arrested on Saturday shortly before 1pm after officers from the NWCTU and officers from Lancashire constabulary executed a warrant at an address in Blackburn.

He was interviewed on suspicion of preparing for an act of terrorism under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. His family were fully cooperating with the inquiry, Mole said at a press conference in Manchester on Monday. The boy’s school and “all relevant agencies” have been contacted for information, he added.

Asked whether the Blackburn teenager had “self-radicalised” on the internet, Mole said: “I genuinely can’t answer that question. At the moment we are investigating communications between the Australian plot and this man and we are busy assessing what offences may or may not have taken place.”

The detective said he believed the teenager was the youngest person arrested in Britain on suspicion of such a crime, but warned that what he called “Isis propaganda” was “seductive to all ages”.

He said police and other agencies tried hard to engage with young people before they entered “the criminal justice space” via Prevent, the government’s often criticised anti-radicalisation programme. But, he cautioned, police would not hesitate to act if they received credible evidence, warning other teenagers: “Be careful what you do because you might find a knock on the door.”

In a statement earlier on Monday, Mole said: “We have uncovered communication between an individual in the north-west and a man in Australia to what we believe is a credible terrorist threat.

“As soon as this information came to light we acted quickly with the relevant authorities here and abroad and this has resulted with officers from the NWCTU arresting a teenager.

The nature of the communication is currently under full assessment and subject to investigation.

“We are continuing to work closely with the police in Australia and Lancashire and I want to reassure the public that we have not uncovered an imminent attack in the UK and there is no immediate threat towards the communities of Lancashire, the north-west and the UK.

“It is important to remind communities and families to bring to our attention anyone they perceive may be vulnerable or in danger of escalating towards terrorism. We have the ability to engage and support individuals where necessary.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321.

It emerged over the weekend that British police are reviewing security operations ahead of the centenary of the Anzac landings.

Following the arrest in Blackburn, Scotland Yard said: “There is no change to the security announcement made on Saturday about asking forces to review plans for Anzac Day-related events to ensure they are safe and secure for visitors and officers.

“The threat level remains unchanged but as ever the public should remain vigilant and report any concerns.”