Yardley man charged with preparing acts of terrorism

A 21-year-old man from Yardley has been charged with terrorism offences after his arrest in Birmingham last week.

Ayoub Essakhi was arrested by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing on Thursday 8 October. He was charged on Wednesday with preparing for acts of terrorism and with distributing terrorist material.

In court

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear at a crown court in central London on 23 October.

A police spokesperson said: "A man from Yardley has been charged with terrorism offences after being arrested in Birmingham last week."

About the charges

Preparing for acts of terrorism is an offence under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. It covers anyone who, intending to commit acts of terrorism or to help others do so, engages in any conduct in preparation. It carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Distributing terrorist material falls under section 2 of the same act, which makes it an offence to distribute or circulate a terrorist publication, or to provide a service that allows others to obtain one.

Terrorism cases in England are usually heard first at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, wherever the arrest took place, before being sent to a Crown Court for trial.

Reporting restrictions

Mr Essakhi has been charged but not convicted, and is entitled to a fair trial. Under the Contempt of Court Act, nothing should be published that could prejudice the proceedings, and that includes comments on social media. Police routinely ask the public not to speculate online about live cases.

How to report concerns

The arrest was made by the regional counter terrorism unit based in Birmingham, one of a network of such units around the country that work alongside local forces and the Security Service, MI5, on investigations. The unit does not usually comment further on a case once someone has been charged.

Counter Terrorism Policing works with local forces across England. It says information from the public plays a vital part in its work, and it encourages people to trust their instincts and report anything that seems out of place.

Suspicious activity or behaviour can be reported in confidence at gov.uk/ACT or by calling the anti-terrorism hotline on 0800 789 321. In an emergency, always call 999.

Anyone worried that someone they know is being drawn into extremism can seek advice through the government's Prevent programme, which aims to support people before they commit any crime. Concerns can be raised with the police on 101 or with Birmingham City Council's Prevent team.