UK teenager arrested for communicating, plotting attack with Syrian IS fighter

LONDON, United Kingdom (Kurdistan 24) – A 17-year-old girl has been charged with terrorism offenses after allegedly “communicating” with an Islamic State (IS) fighter in Syria to plot an attack in the UK.

The unnamed teenager was accused of conspiring with the jihadist to obtain weapons and launch an attack on British soil.

Authorities said the 17-year-old reportedly “received instructions on how to train and use weapons and asked for assistance in completing the plan.”

The Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command said they had investigated the teenager’s activities before charging her.

“A 17-year-old girl was charged on Tuesday, July 25 with the intention of committing acts of terrorism engaged in conduct in preparation for giving effect to that intention,” an official police statement read.

According to the Metropolitan Police report, the charges were for “communicating with an [IS] fighter in Syria and arranging to receive weapons” to conduct an attack in the UK.

The girl was previously charged on April 12 with “acts in preparation contrary to section five of the Terrorism Act 2006.”

She is due to appear at the Westminster magistrates’ court on Wednesday before appearing at the Old Bailey court on Thursday.

The UK has been the target of several terrorist attacks in recent months.

In May, 22-year-old Salman Abedi detonated an explosive vest during a pop concert at the Manchester Arena.

The blast killed 22 people and left several hundred others injured.

In early June, a van rammed into pedestrians on the London Bridge before the attackers jumped out and proceeded to stab a number of people at a nearby market.

The assailants were eventually shot and killed by police.

In 2015, a report found more than 50 young British women had been lured to join IS as part of a widespread grooming campaign by the jihadist group along with 500 women from other Western countries.

Editing by G.H. Renaud