Serving police officer arrested on suspicion of supporting Hamas

A serving constabulary bureau successful South West England has been arrested connected suspicion of supporting the Palestinian militant radical Hamas.

The officer, a constable aged successful his thirties, was arrested connected Tuesday successful Gloucestershire by counterterrorism police, who said the suspected enactment "relates to enactment online".

He has been taken to a constabulary custody portion extracurricular Gloucestershire.

Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South West (CTPSW) made the apprehension connected a spot successful Gloucester, and besides searched a conveyance and code successful the area, constabulary said.

Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson said the searches aimed to find integer devices for analysis.

“The apprehension of a serving serviceman connected suspicion of specified a superior offence volition nary uncertainty origin our communities concern, arsenic it does everyone who works for Gloucestershire Police," helium added.

“The apprehension has been made to let for a punctual and effectual probe to instrumentality spot and we indispensable not gully immoderate conclusions astatine this stage.”

It's an offence nether conception 12 of the Terrorism Act to supply enactment for a proscribed violent group.

Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah, much commonly known arsenic Hamas, has ruled Gaza since 2007. It was proscribed successful its entirety successful the UK successful 2021.

The radical was liable for the 7 October 2023 attacks, which saw hundreds of gunmen participate confederate Israel. About 1,200 radical were killed and 251 others taken hostage.

Israel retaliated by launching a subject run to destruct Hamas, during which much than 43,400 radical person been killed successful Gaza, according to the Hamas-run wellness ministry.

A week aft the 7 October attacks, the government's autarkic reviewer of coercion warned speeches astatine pro-Palestinian rallies successful the UK mightiness person glorified terrorism.

"People request to know, if you glorify that you hazard committing a truly superior coercion offence," Jonathan Hall KC said astatine the time.

Then location caput Suella Braverman besides said "the afloat unit of the law" should beryllium utilized against enactment for Hamas.

Members of the Conservative authorities urged the Metropolitan Police to summation patrols, claiming radical were "glorifying the violent activities of Hamas".

In April this year, a antheral was recovered blameworthy of wearing a headband successful enactment of Hamas astatine a pro-Palestinian rally successful cardinal London.