Smethwick teenager charged with terrorism offences

Counter-terrorism officers charged a teenager in the West Midlands yesterday (3 August) as part of an ongoing investigation.

Amir El-Harith, aged 18 and from Smethwick, was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of terrorism offences.

He has today been charged with three offences of distributing terrorist publications, three offences of encouraging terrorism and one offence of possession of information likely to be useful to someone committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

He will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court today (4 August).

The arrest was part of a Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands CTU intelligence-led investigation, and police said there was no immediate threat to public safety.

A second teen, aged 17, was also arrested and subsequently released on bail.