South London Teenager Appears in Court on Terrorism Charge
A teenager from south London is facing a serious terrorism charge after allegedly attempting to travel to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State. Chafik Aziz, 18, of Wallington, was charged following an investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing London.
Arrest and Detention at Gatwick Airport
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers arrested the 18-year-old man on November 4 at Gatwick Airport. He was initially detained on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation.
He was subsequently rearrested the following day under the Terrorism Act 2000. Officers obtained a warrant of further detention at Westminster Magistrates' Court, allowing them to keep the teenager in custody.
Specific Charges and Court Appearance
The specific charge alleges that between July 1 and November 5 this year, Aziz engaged in conduct in preparation for committing acts of terrorism. The prosecution claims this involved attempting to travel to Syria to join Islamic State.
After further inquiries and liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service, charges were authorised against Aziz on November 11. He has been remanded in police custody and was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, November 12.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of UK counter-terrorism units to prevent individuals from travelling to conflict zones to join terrorist organisations.
