Men accused of conducting hostile reconaissance on a west London police station and swearing an oath to Islamic State

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Four young men from London allegedly swore an oath to Islamic State extremists, acquired a gun and used everyday internet tools to plot the shooting dead of police officers or soldiers in the capital, a court heard on Friday .

The men were arrested during counter-terrorism raids in London over the past fortnight and were charged on Friday with preparing to carry out a terrorist attack. Those charged are medical student Tarik Hassane, 21, Suhaib Majeed, 20, Nyall Hamlett, 24, and Momen Motasim, 21.

Westminster magistrates court heard claims the alleged plot involved the use of Google Street View to conduct “hostile reconnaissance” on Shepherd’s Bush police station and White City Territorial Army barracks. The men are also alleged to have images, sent via Instagram, of two Metropolitan police officers and two community support officers.

As part of a plot it is claimed a gun, silencer and ammunition were obtained, as well as a moped.

The alleged terrorist plotters are claimed to have had a copy of a “fatwa” from one of the senior leaders of Islamic State (Isis) calling for strikes against the US and its allies in retaliation for their military action against the extremist group in Iraq.

A fifth man, Nathan Cuffy, 25, was charged with firearms offences. Police said he was alleged to have “transferred a converted Baikal handgun (incorporating a silencer) to Nyall Hamlett”, and “transferred to Nyall Hamlett a magazine containing six rounds of ammunition”. Cuffy is not charged under terrorism legislation.

The plotters are alleged to have pleaded allegiance to Isis and were charged with the intention of committing acts of terrorism, or assisting others to commit such acts between 8 July and 7 October 2014.

During that period, in late August, the UK’s terrorist level was raised to severe on the basis of concerns over an attack inspired by extremists in Syria and Iraq. Last Friday police were warned they could be targets of an attack and to be extra vigilant about their personal safety.

Hours after they were charged the five appeared in court, flanked in the dock by more than a dozen police – including plainclothes officers wearing stab-proof vests – and security officers.

Mark Dawson, prosecuting, told the court the case revolved around an alleged plot “albeit not fully formed, to shoot, to kill, police officers or soldiers on the streets of London”. He said the 21 details within the terror charge related to different individuals.

All five men remain in custody and will appear in court again later this month.

The men were arrested by Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command following raids across London.

Details of the alleged plot were released by police and emerged in the court hearing, with the four men who are claimed to be plotting a strike on behalf of Isis accused of more than 20 terrorism-related acts.

It is claimed they “took an oath of allegiance to the group IS (Islamic State), a proscribed organisation”, gave orders on the “use of secure communications” and set up methods to communicate secretly.

The four men are alleged to have “demonstrated tradecraft by the use of code words for money, mopeds and firearms”.

As part of the plot, some or all of the four are alleged to have obtained a gun and ammunition for terrorism purposes. They allegedly discussed the sourcing of a firearm, and researched different makes.

Having acquired the converted gun, they are alleged to have carried out further research on YouTube and also stored the Baikal handgun and ammunition.

The plotters are also claimed to have discussed the best moped they could use for an attack and where to hide it in Shepherd’s Bush, west London.

It is further alleged that as part of the preparations, the men “downloaded and circulated the fatwa of [Abu Muhammad] al-Adnani”, a senior ISIS leader. They allegedly “considered, discussed and decided to act on the fatwa of Adnani” calling for strikes against the west, and “retained an extract from the fatwa of Adnani”.

They are alleged to have had copies of extremist material, including two editions of Inspire magazine and an edition of an Isis publication called Dabiq, edition 04 published on 4 October 2014 and containing “among other articles graphic images of the beheading of Steven Sotloff”.

Police said that one man, aged 20, who was arrested on 7 October by counter-terrorism officers, had been released on Friday after the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evidence to charge him.

A woman, 19, who was arrested on Monday, has been released on bail until next week pending further inquiries. Two other arrested men, aged 20 and 21, had already been freed on Monday.

Throughout this year concern among UK counter-terrorism officials has been mounting about the potential for extremists in Syria to attract young Britons.