Two teenagers are scheduled to appear in a London courtroom on Friday to face charges connected to extreme right-wing terrorism, unrelated to the recent rioting in the country, according to police.
Rex Clark, 18, from London, and Sofija Vinogradova, 19, from Cheshunt, northeast of the capital, have been charged with preparing terrorist acts. Additionally, Vinogradova faces two counts of collecting information that could be useful for someone committing or planning a terrorist act.
Police have stated that the investigation is ongoing, but they do not believe there is a broader threat at this time.
“These are extremely serious charges, but I would urge the public not to speculate further about this case,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism unit.
Vinogradova was first arrested on August 4 on suspicion of possessing a firearm and gathering information that could aid a terrorist. She was rearrested on August 10 alongside Clark, after which police obtained a warrant to keep them in custody.
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Murphy clarified that the charges are not connected to the recent unrest that spread across much of England and Belfast, Northern Ireland. The violence, which began on July 30, was sparked by far-right agitators who spread false information online, claiming that the suspect in a fatal stabbing of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class was a Muslim asylum seeker.
Clark and Vinogradova are expected to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
