Boy, 14, Charged Over London Mosque Terror Plot

A 14-year-old boy from south London has been charged with an offence linked to “extreme rightwing terrorism” after police found documents of concern during a search of his home.

The Metropolitan Police said the teenager was arrested on 9 July on suspicion of criminal damage to a vehicle. Officers who went to the address then uncovered what they described as “a number of documents of concern”, prompting further counter-terrorism work.

Alleged target in Sutton

The terrorism charge relates to an alleged plan to target two mosques in the Sutton area of south London.

The Met said the mosques affected had been contacted and were receiving support from specialist officers. It added that officers were not looking for any other suspects in connection with the plot.

Following further inquiries by counter-terrorism officers working with the Crown Prosecution Service, the boy was charged with preparation of terrorist acts on or before 9 July.

Other charge

He was also charged with racially aggravated damage to property after officers alleged he damaged a car window on or before 20 June in Sutton. Both charges stem from matters investigated after the initial vehicle incident and the subsequent search.

Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing for London, said the charge was serious and would be of concern to the public and local community.

She said the case was particularly worrying for the Muslim community and that police were working with the venues affected to provide updates, advice, support and reassurance. Flanagan added that the force is seeing an increasing number of children and young people in its counter-terrorism casework.

Nick Blackburn, the Met’s deputy commander for local policing in south London, said the cumulative impact of such incidents can be significant for Muslim communities.

He said the charges were brought just days after 12 people were arrested over a suspected threat to an Islamic festival in Suffolk, and after a man was arrested over an alleged assault outside a mosque in Leyton. Blackburn said counter-terrorism colleagues were involved throughout the investigation and that additional patrols had been put in place in affected areas, with further patrols expected in the coming days.

Wider security guidance

Last month, new national guidance from the Muslim Council of Britain advised mosques in the UK to carry out lockdown drills, strengthen links with police and improve CCTV coverage. The guidance was issued amid growing concerns about anti-Muslim attacks and warned that Muslim places of worship faced increasing risks including vandalism, intimidation, threats and targeted hostility.

The Met’s announcement follows a wider pattern of incidents affecting Muslim communities. These include a “potential serious threat” to an event in Suffolk, racist riots in Belfast last month, and attempted firebombings, vandalism and violent attacks on mosques in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Shrewsbury and parts of east London.

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16 July 2026

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