Two men from Nottinghamshire and West Yorkshire have appeared in court charged with planning to commit an act of terrorism following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, the UK Defence Journal understands.
Oliver William Rea, 24, from Arnold, and Muhammad Bham, 19, from Dewsbury, were charged with engaging in conduct in preparation of an act of terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.
According to police, Rea faces additional counts including three for disseminating terrorist publications that allegedly encourage terrorism, two for inviting support for ISIS under Section 12(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000, and two for expressing support for proscribed organisations, namely Al Qaeda and ISIS, under Section 12(1A) of the same legislation.
The men were detained on October 29 in what investigators described as an intelligence-led operation supported by West Yorkshire Police, Nottinghamshire Police, and Counter Terrorism Policing East Midlands. Warrants of further detention were granted by a court on October 31.
Both defendants were remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear again at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 13.
The Terrorism Act 2000 and its subsequent amendments provide UK authorities with powers to investigate and prosecute terrorism-related offences, including the preparation of attacks and the dissemination of extremist material. Counter Terrorism Policing North East is one of several regional units tasked with investigating and disrupting terrorist activity across the country, often working in coordination with local police forces and national intelligence agencies.
I’m guessing Oliver Rea is ginger.