A currently serving officer with the Gloucestershire police has been detained on suspicion of engaging in a terrorism-related offence.
A constable in his 30s was apprehended by counter-terrorism police on Tuesday in Gloucester under the Terrorism Act, on allegations of providing assistance to a proscribed organization, which Gloucestershire Constabulary identified as Hamas.
The alleged support for the organization is connected to activities online, as stated by the police force.
Hamas, an Islamic militant group based in Gaza, has been in conflict with Israel, a situation that severely escalated following the attack on October 7 last year.
In the UK, expressing support for or being affiliated with Hamas is prohibited, as it is classified as a terrorist group—this designation is echoed in the European Union and numerous other nations, including the United States.
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The individual has been placed in police custody, and specialized officers are conducting searches as part of the investigation, which includes examining a vehicle and a property.
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Arman Mathieson, assistant chief constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary, remarked: “The detention of a serving officer on suspicions of such a grave offence will undoubtedly raise concerns within our communities, as it does among all members of the Gloucestershire police force.
“It is essential to clarify that the alleged support pertains to online activities, and the ongoing searches are primarily aimed at identifying digital devices for further examination.
“This arrest has been carried out to facilitate a swift and thorough investigation, and we should avoid drawing any conclusions at this time.”
