A teenager from Wallington has been arrested under the Terrorism Act.

Chafik Aziz, 18, was charged on November 11 with, according to the Metropolitan Police, “an offence contrary to section 5 (1)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2006”.

Aziz’s charges state that “between 1 July, 2025 and 5 November, 2025 with the intention of committing acts of terrorism, [he] engaged in conduct in preparation for giving effect to his intention, namely attempted to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State”.

The jihadist group Islamic State has grown in the aftermath of western invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2014, it seized large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq, and quickly became notorious for brutality, including mass killings, abductions and beheadings.

In the case of Aziz, the Met issued a statement which said, “Officers arrested an 18-year-old man on Tuesday, November 4, at Gatwick Airport. He was initially arrested on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation and detained in police custody under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

“However, he was re-arrested and detained the following day under Section 41 Terrorism Act 2000. On Thursday, November 6, officers obtained a warrant of further detention at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, which meant the 18-year-old could be kept in police custody until November 11.

“After carrying out further enquiries and following liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service, the above charges were authorised against Aziz on November 11.”

Aziz was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today.

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