Man charged in Republic with funding terrorism
A TERROR suspect arrested in Whitehall on Thursday has been named as Khalid Mohamed Omar Ali.
The 27-year-old is believed to be a British national who was born overseas and went to school in Tottenham, north London.
In a separate operation, an active terror plot was foiled after police launched an armed raid in north London in which a woman was shot and injured.
Ali was detained by armed officers after a stop and search as part of an “intelligence-led” operation.
He remains in custody, having been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act and possession of offensive weapons.
Police recovered knives during the swoop, which took place yards from the scene of last month’s deadly attack by Khalid Masood in Westminster.
Reports suggest the suspect was arrested after a concerned family member contacted authorities.
Detectives are continuing to question him, while two searches are being carried out at addresses in London.
Meanwhile, six people were in custody after a team of specialist firearms officers stormed an address in Willesden, north London, on Thursday night.
A woman in her 20s who was shot during the swoop remains under police guard after being taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Elite armed officers carried out a “specialist entry” into a terraced property in Harlesden Road shortly before 7pm on Thursday night.
Police fired CS gas into the address, which had been under observation as part of a current counter-terrorism operation.
Neighbours recalled hearing “at least six” shots and screaming as police entered the address.
Ruth Haile, who lives in the road, said she heard shots and saw an injured woman being treated.
Alexandra Sabanov, a motherof-one who lived next door to the raided house, saw officers with “gas masks and snipers”.
“We heard ‘bang, bang, bang, bang’, went to the window and just saw a number of armed police just there with their guns pointing at our next-door neighbour’s window.”
Police said the woman’s condition is serious but stable. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed, as is routine for police shootings. A 25-year-old man has appeared in court in the Republic charged with funding terrorism.
Hasan Bal, who is originally from the UK and had been living in Waterford city, was remanded in custody after a brief hearing at Waterford District Court.
He is charged with providing funds for a terrorist organisation on October 2, 2015 and attempting to provide funds on October 23, 2015.
The court was told Bal made no reply when both charges were put to him. Judge Kevin Staunton was told there was no issue when he asked if there were any “language difficulties” with Bal.
Bal was arrested on Thursday in Waterford and charged with the two offences under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005.
His solicitor Pat Newell told the court that he was applying for legal aid and that he was reserving his position on a bail application until the case is back before the court on Tuesday.
A woman arrested on Thursday in Waterford as part of the same investigation was released without charge, with a file being prepared for the DPP.