Teen in court accused of supporting Islamic State

A 16-year-old boy accused of supporting the Islamic State (IS) group had stockpiled weapons, explosives and a suicide vest at his family home, a court has heard.

The teenager, from Didcot in Oxfordshire, is suspected of sharing IS propaganda on terrorist attacks in Paris as well as footage of battlefield explosions and killings.

It is alleged he had 17 knives, including machetes, in his bedroom when his home was raided by counter terrorism police on 12 March.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday facing seven terrorism charges, including the alleged possession of a suicide bomb vest.

The boy, who is said to have converted to Islam as a teenager, allegedly had swords and a knuckle duster in his possession, as well as homemade explosives.

He has also been charged with refusing to give police access to his phone while in custody after his arrest.

Appearing in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded the boy in custody.

Through his lawyer, the boy - who cannot be named for legal reasons - indicated not-guilty pleas to all eight charges against him.

According to the charges, it is alleged he sent a video "containing footage of Islamic State and attacks in Paris" to his cousin in November last year.

The following month, he allegedly shared a "battlefield video containing footage of Islamic state".

He is also accused of possessing an IS magazine, a document of "deadly skills", a suicide vest, a selection of knives and swords, and "homemade improvised explosive devices".

The boy has been charged with two counts of of disseminating a terrorist publication, three counts of possessing an article for the purpose of terrorism and two counts of possessing material that may be of use for terrorist purposes.

He has also been charged with failure to comply with a notice issued under section 49 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000, in relation to his alleged refusal to allow police access to his phone.

The teenager is due to appear at the Old Bailey for a further hearing on 17 April.

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